Soeyono may countersue Syarwan over July 27 riots<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The secretary-general of the Ministry of Defense
\nand Security, Lt. Gen. Soeyono, retaliated yesterday to Minister
\nof Home Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid's plan to sue him over his
\nrecent press statement by threatening to file a counter lawsuit.<\/p>\n
"I think I will countersue if he sues me over my press
\nstatement," Soeyono said at the defense ministry on Jl. Merdeka
\nBarat in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
"I was the 'victim' of the July 27 riots. I was grounded by
\nthe Armed Forces headquarters a few days after the riots broke
\nout two years ago," he said.<\/p>\n
Soeyono said last week that the July 27, 1996 forcible
\ntakeover of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) headquarters --
\nwhich led to massive and fatal rioting -- was preceded by a
\n"sociopolitical operation" organized by the Armed Forces
\nheadquarters.<\/p>\n
Soeyono defined the operation as a campaign to back a splinter
\ngroup's congress in June 1996 in Medan, which replaced Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri with Soerjadi as PDI chairperson.<\/p>\n
Syarwan, who was then the Armed Forces (ABRI) chief of
\nsociopolitical affairs, took offense and said he would sue
\nSoeyono.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, Soeyono explained that there had been no "military
\noperation" by the ABRI headquarters to take over the PDI office.
\nThis, he said, had been the responsibility of the Jakarta
\nMilitary Command.<\/p>\n
"It was a local-level military operation, not a national-level
\none," he added.<\/p>\n
He disclaimed any knowledge as to whether there had been
\ndisagreement among ABRI senior officials before the decision to
\nforce Megawati's loyalists out of the party office.<\/p>\n
"I was on leave at the time. Moreover, the responsibility has
\nbeen leveled at the Jakarta Military Command," he said.<\/p>\n
Syarwan was not available for comment yesterday as he was on a
\nthree-day visit to his hometown in Riau.<\/p>\n
Soeyono graduated from the Armed Forces Academy in 1965, one
\nyear before Syarwan graduated from the same academy.<\/p>\n
In a related development, National Police spokesman Maj. Gen.
\nDa'i Bachtiar confirmed yesterday that Syarwan had lodged
\ncomplaints against several local mass media for their reports on
\nhis alleged involvement in the takeover.<\/p>\n
"They were submitted today, but they are still being studied
\nby the National Police chief so I cannot give you any details,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
"Remember, we have to stick to the presumption of innocence,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib said yesterday his office was
\nready to assist any state officials who took offense or suffered
\nlosses from certain media reports.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters after installing 11 subordinates, Ghalib
\nsaid his office would provide assistance for any officials who
\nneeded legal help.<\/p>\n
"State officials need to be protected because they work for
\nthe interests, the safety and welfare of the people, not for
\ntheir own interests," Ghalib said.<\/p>\n
"If they are offended (by the media), they have the right to
\nlegal assistance."<\/p>\n
"Of course we will help them because they too have the right
\nto defend themselves," he said.<\/p>\n
The Attorney General's Office has appointed one of its
\nprosecutors, Rusjdi Taher, to help Syarwan in his legal battle.
\n(imn\/edt\/prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeyono-may-countersue-syarwan-over-july-27-riots-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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