PDI legislators face criminal charges<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government intensified its campaign
\nyesterday to prosecute Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
\npoliticians linked to the July 27 invasion of the party
\nheadquarters.<\/p>\n
The government charges that with their inflammatory remarks
\nduring free speech forums, the politicians stirred anti-
\ngovernment sentiment and incited people to revolt.<\/p>\n
Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman said that the politicians
\ncould be jailed for inciting others to undertake activities that
\ndisrupted public order.<\/p>\n
\"The punishment that could be meted out to the PDI officials
\nis as hefty as that to the people who rioted,\" Oetojo told
\njournalists.<\/p>\n
The police said Wednesday they were awaiting President
\nSoeharto's approval for their request to question ousted PDI
\nchief Megawati Soekarnoputri, and legislators Aberson Marle
\nSihaloho, Sabam Sirait, Sophan Sophiaan, Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno
\nand Sukowaluyo Mintorahardjo.<\/p>\n
In government eyes Megawati is deemed to be most responsible
\nfor the free speech forum that featured the legislators and
\nnumerous party activists.<\/p>\n
The forum started a few days before Megawati was ousted by the
\ngovernment-backed Soerjadi at a congress in Medan on July 22. It
\nlasted until the headquarters was invaded on July 27 and
\nregularly drew huge crowds.<\/p>\n
The headquarters takeover angered Megawati's supporters. Many
\noffice buildings, banks and cars were set on fire, three people
\ndied and dozens of others were injured in the riots that ensued.<\/p>\n
Oetojo said the legislators could be charged with undermining
\nthe state's security.<\/p>\n
\"They are facing criminal charges,\" he said, adding that they
\nmay also be charged with subversion, the most serious offense
\nunder Indonesian law. It carries a maximum penalty of death.<\/p>\n
The minister said the same charges may be pressed against
\nactivists of the Democratic People's Party (PRD), who the
\nmilitary suspects masterminded the July 27-28 riots in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Director of Immigration Pranowo said he had not received a
\nrequest from Armed Forces (ABRI) chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung to
\nslap a ban on PRD activists from leaving Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The military likening PRD to the outlawed Indonesian Communist
\nParty (PKI), which was blamed for the 1965 abortive coup, has
\nraised questions about its legal basis.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Institute for Strategic Studies of Indonesia
\nRudini called on the Armed Forces to prove its allegation that
\nthe PRD is synonymous with PKI.<\/p>\n
\"ABRI has to prove its allegation otherwise it will ruin its
\nown image among the people,\" Rudini said yesterday.<\/p>\n
The former Home Affairs Minister said it is high time people
\nhad transparent information on every criminal or subversive
\nallegation hurled at government critics.<\/p>\n
\"Unclear information only leads to misinterpretation of the
\nallegations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rudini said he also believes there are similarities in
\noperational techniques between the PKI and the PRD, but suggested
\nthat there should be further investigation before charges are
\nleveled at the two-year-old organization.<\/p>\n
Asked about the weekend riots, Rudini called on all parties to
\nconsider the consequences of any actions they might take before
\ncoming to a decision over future action.<\/p>\n
\"Government officials should carefully weigh up all possible
\nconsequences before forcing others to accept their policies,\"
\nRudini said.<\/p>\n
\"And at the same time the people should use peaceful means to
\nfurther their ideas or express their opposition to any government
\npolicy,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Rudini called on the Armed Forces, the government and the
\npeople to sit down together and have a dialog on state issues.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy in Jakarta expressed concern
\nyesterday over arrests and detentions by the authorities after
\nlast week's riots.<\/p>\n
\"We continue to be deeply concerned about the apparent
\nviolation of basic rights of freedom of peaceful assembly,
\nfreedom of speech, freedom of association, respect for the rule
\nof law and the democratic process,\" embassy spokesman Craig
\nStromme said when asked to comment on the arrest of a labor
\nleader Muchtar Pakpahan of the unrecognized Indonesian Welfare
\nLabor Union.<\/p>\n
\"We call on the Indonesian government to ensure that all those
\narrested and detained, including Pakpahan, are given due
\nprocess,\" he told Reuters.<\/p>\n
Demonstrations of concern over the way the Indonesian
\nauthorities handled the PDI conflict and the aftermath of the
\nparty headquarters takeover reportedly occurred in front of
\nIndonesian embassies in Manila and Bangkok yesterday.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, the chief of the Nahdlatul Ulama Moslem
\norganization, Abdurrahman Wahid, claimed ABRI's spokesman Brig.
\nGen. Amir Syarifuddin slandered him when he included his name on
\nthe list of nine persons who had received a so-called \"Democracy
\nAward\" from the PRD.<\/p>\n
He said that during a recent meeting with East Java non-
\ngovernmental organization activists in Surabaya, Amir distributed
\ncopies of the list to the audience.<\/p>\n
\"It's slanderous. I didn't receive such an award. Why didn't
\nhe cross-check it with me in the first place? I hope ABRI's
\ncommander in chief (Feisal Tanjung) will deal with him strictly,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, claimed Gus Dur, Amir recently told several
\nreporters in the city that he is a former member of Iraqi leader
\nSaddam Hussein's Baath Party.<\/p>\n
\"Why didn't he call me and check if the information is true?
\nJust because I once studied in Iraq, he called me a member of the
\nBaath Party.\" he said. (pan\/imn\/jsk)<\/p>",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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