Alleged PDI hired help seek protection
JAKARTA (JP): About half a dozen people allegedly hired to take over the disputed headquarters of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) went to the National Commission on Human Rights yesterday to seek protection for themselves and their colleagues.
Their lawyer R.O. Tambunan said the group had been subjected to intimidation "by certain parties", but did not elaborate. He said 150 others had been prevented from visiting the Commission by the intimidating parties.
"We asked the Commission to be on alert and note if some of these people here suddenly go missing before their lawsuit is heard," Tambunan said.
Among those who managed to get to the Commission yesterday were the group's leader, a self-proclaimed "repentant hoodlum" called Seno Bella Emyus, and his colleagues Andi S.T. and Hasan.
The group charged last month that the government-recognized PDI leader, Soerjadi, had hired 400 people to forcibly take over the headquarters from supporters of the ousted PDI leader Megawati Soekarnoputri.
They claimed that Soerjadi and his colleagues had broken their promise to pay the group Rp 200 million in cash after the takeover. They are suing Soerjadi and his camp for Rp 2 billion (US$486,618) in damages.
They also charged that they had been deceived, claiming that Soerjadi's cadres had told them that their mission was to reinforce the Megawati loyalists defending the office, not to take it over.
The takeover sparked a bloody riot which according to the National Commission on Human Rights left at least five people dead and injured 124 others.
Commission Secretary-General Baharuddin Lopa expressed his concern over the case. He said his organization only handled cases which had not been taken to court, but promised to study the group's report.
The hearing of the Megawati loyalists' lawsuit against Soerjadi, his cadres and Abubakar Nataprawira, the former Central Jakarta Police Precinct chief, was marked yesterday by a minor disturbance in the Central Jakarta District Court.
Immediately after presiding judge Abas Somantri closed the hearing a group of visitors charged at Abubakar's lawyer.
The lawyer, Edward Syahpernong, fled the courtroom. The group, whose attempt to strike him was foiled by Megawati's lawyers, shouted repeatedly after the lawyer: "Mega will certainly win."
The 124 Megawati loyalists accused Soerjadi and his colleagues, including Buttu R. Hutapea, Romulus Sihombing, Harsoko Sudiro, Yahya Theo and Alex Widya Siregar, of leading and preparing the raid against the party's headquarters.
The hearing was adjourned until June 19. (05)