Ten people questioned over attack on councilor<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The authorities have questioned more than 10
\npeople, including a government official, for possible involvement
\nin the recent attack on a councilor in Surabaya.<\/p>\n
The Agency for the Coordination of Support for the Development
\nof National Stability asked the Surabaya police headquarters to
\ninvestigate the vandalism of Andy Soedirman's home last week,
\naccording to the Bhaskara Jaya military commander, Col. Syamsul
\nMa'arif.<\/p>\n
\"We'll investigate the case thoroughly. Trust us, the police
\nare committed to solving it,\" East Java police chief Maj. Gen.
\nRoesmanhadi was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Some 200 people vandalized Andy's home on Friday in reaction
\nto his announcement that he would sue Surabaya Mayor Soenarto
\nSoemoprawiro for land appropriation discrepancies.<\/p>\n
Andy charged that Soenarto appropriated a plot on Jl.
\nSungkono without the consent of the city legislative council.<\/p>\n
The attackers called themselves \"the defenders of the mayor\",
\nand were reportedly led by nine people, including a realtor, a
\nvillage chief, and head of the mayoralty's office for social and
\npolitical affairs, Lt. Col. Budhiyanto.<\/p>\n
Budhiyanto, who signed the list of \"protesters of Surabaya\" at
\nthe time of the attack, was questioned on the order of commander
\nof the Brawijaya Military Command, Maj. Gen. Imam Utomo. The
\ndaily Republika reported yesterday that Budhiyanto denied
\nmasterminding the attack. He said he went to the spot only to
\ncarry out his duty.<\/p>\n
In related developments, chairman of the Supreme Advisory
\nCouncil (ret.) Sudomo called on the public yesterday not to be
\nprovoked by \"news of cases such as the vandalism against Andy's
\nhome\". Instead, people should first ask for more information from
\nthe authorities, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Ask people who know. If you find pamphlets, go ask the
\nmilitary or police. Don't let them (circulars) make conditions
\nworse than they already are,\" he was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
Still in relation to Mayor Soenarto, 10 local journalists who
\ntook offense at his recent threats have decided to drop their
\nlibel suit against him.<\/p>\n
The journalists withdrew their Oct. 6, lawsuit through lawyer
\nTrimoelja D. Soejadi after the mayor publicly apologized for his
\nremarks.<\/p>\n
Soenarto last month threatened journalists covering the
\nactivities of East Java Governor Basofi Sudirman that he would
\nhound them out of the city unless they stopped making reports
\nwhich showed his superior in a negative light. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ten-people-questioned-over-attack-on-councilor-1447893297",
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