64 arrested for marking July 27 anniversary
JAKARTA (JP): Police arrested 64 people in Jakarta and Yogyakarta yesterday for marking the one-year anniversary of the violent takeover of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) headquarters without official permits.
Fifty-five supporters of ousted PDI leader Megawati Soekarnoputri were detained in Jakarta and the rest in Yogyakarta. They had attempted to hold public marches marking the takeover and an ensuing riot.
In the South Sulawesi capital of Ujungpandang, a dozen Megawati loyalists laid wreaths at the popular Losari Beach without incident.
Chief of the City Police Detectives Col. Gories Mere told The Jakarta Post that six of those arrested in Jakarta were involved in last year's riot.
One protester carried a mock coffin bearing the slogan "Democracy and the 124 Victims".
The figure refers to the number of Megawati supporters who were prosecuted for "ignoring a police order" when they fought back against an attack by supporters of Soerjadi, Megawati's replacement as chief of PDI.
Hundreds of police and troops blocked streets leading to the PDI headquarters, which is unoccupied and under renovation, to stop marchers from reaching it to lay wreaths.
The protesters attempted to get to the headquarters from different directions but were unsuccessful. Under tight security cordons, they sang patriotic songs, prayed, chanted pro-Megawati slogans and tossed flowers into the air. They had dispersed peacefully by mid-day.
Last year's takeover by supporters of Soerjadi, who toppled Megawati in a government-sanctioned rebel congress in June 1996, snowballed into the full-scale riot.
The National Commission on Human Rights reported last October that the riot left five people dead, 23 missing and 149 injured. Dozens of banks, offices, shops, vehicles and government buildings were vandalized or set on fire.
The commission report also criticized the government for meddling in PDI's internal affairs and deepening rifts within the party.
It also found that members of the security forces were involved in the takeover of the PDI headquarters.
On Saturday night, about 5,000 Megawati supporters held a mass prayer at her residence in South Jakarta in commemoration of the tragedy. No disturbances were reported.
Gories said those arrested yesterday could be charged with holding street rallies without police permits and disturbing public order. The offense carries a maximum two-week imprisonment or Rp 2,250 (90 US cents) fine.
Megawati supporters also demanded that Soerjadi be tried for his alleged involvement in the riot. One banner read "Pro- Megawati: Take Soerjadi and Friends to Court."
A Megawati supporter from the North Jakarta chapter, Mrs. Effendi, tearfully said she could not understand why the security forces stopped them from approaching the headquarters to pray and lay wreaths.
"Why don't they just let us do it?" she said, adding that the group only wanted to pray for those who died in the incident.
In Yogyakarta, the nine people were arrested for organizing a protest forum in the town spuare for participants to speak their mind.
They demanded that Soerjadi be tried for allegedly ordering the raid on the PDI headquarters and causing the riot.
Rallies took place at several sites in Yogyakarta, the largest involving 1,500 people at Parangkusumo beach. (09/cst/aan/23/31)