Soerjadi arrested over 1996 case<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Former Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
\nchairman Soerjadi was arrested by police on Tuesday following a
\nmarathon questioning over his alleged role in the riots sparked
\nby a forcible takeover of the party's office in 1996.<\/p>\n
The National Police Headquarters issued a warrant for the
\narrest of the Supreme Advisory Council member at about 9 p.m.,
\nafter 10 hours of interrogation.<\/p>\n
The deputy chief of general crimes, Col. Makbul Padmanegara,
\nconfirmed the arrest. Soerjadi is now in the custody of the
\nNational Police, and joins the party's former secretary-general
\nButtu Hutapea and deputy chairman Alex Widya Siregar.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi, who has been named a suspect in the incident, was
\nquoted by his lawyer Parlin Sitorus as telling police detectives
\nthat he hosted a meeting with some officials of the Armed Forces
\nand Ministry of Home Affairs at a hotel in South Jakarta two days
\nbefore the July 27 bloodshed.<\/p>\n
Among the attendants of the meeting were the then Armed Forces
\nchief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid and former
\ndirector general of Sociopolitical Affairs Soetoyo N.K.<\/p>\n
But Parlin played down the importance of the meeting.<\/p>\n
\"It was aimed at finding a solution to the party's internal
\nsplit and discussing measures that may help the party prepare for
\nthe upcoming general election,\" Parlin said.<\/p>\n
The meeting followed a breakaway government-backed congress in
\nMedan, North Sumatra, earlier in June 1996 which reelected
\nSoerjadi as the party's chairman. The party had earlier appointed
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri as the chairwoman.<\/p>\n
Parlin said it was common practice among political parties to
\nreport to the military chief, the home affairs minister and the
\npresident about the results of a congress.<\/p>\n
The questioning of Soerjadi was enabled following the approval
\nof President Abdurrahman Wahid. According to Indonesian law,
\ninterrogation of state officials requires the head of state's
\npermission.<\/p>\n
Party supporters who claimed to be loyal to Soerjadi took over
\nthe party's office on Jl. Diponegoro in Central Jakarta, which at
\nthat time was occupied by pro-Megawati activists. Many believed
\nelements in the former Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) were
\nreportedly involved in the attack.<\/p>\n
The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) announced
\nin September 1996 that five people died, 149 were injured and 23
\nwere still missing during the riots.<\/p>\n
Legal attempts were sought by Megawati, but to no avail.<\/p>\n
Shortly after police reopened the investigation in February,
\n13 people were named suspects. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soerjadi-arrested-over-1996-case-1447893297",
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