Attack on Matori 'politically motivated'

JAKARTA (JP): Leading politicians and observers said on Monday the attack on National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Matori Abdul Djalil was politically motivated, speculating that it might be part of a larger conspiracy to destabilize the government.

House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung believed there was political intent behind the assault on Matori, who is also deputy speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly.

"Matori might be disliked by certain people because of his firm political stance," said Akbar, who is also chairman of the Golkar Party.

He speculated the attack was a preliminary attempt to disturb the government of President Abdurrahman Wahid, a founder of PKB.

PKB's faction chairman in the Assembly, Yusuf Muhammad, echoed Akbar's view.

"PKB will set up a team to help police uncover the case," Yusuf said

Neither Akbar nor Yusuf would elaborate on which groups they suspected of being behind the attack.

The PKB chairman is known for harsh criticism of the role of the Indonesian Military (TNI) in politics.

He was also rumored to have been influential in last week's major reshuffle of the military's top brass.

National Police chief Lt. Gen. Roesdihardjo, while stressing the assault for the meantime remained a criminal case, did not rule out the possibility of political intent.

"It could be (politically motivated)," Roesdihardjo said on the sidelines of a hearing with the House's Commission II for domestic and legal affairs.

Assembly Speaker Amien Rais asked police to quickly investigate the case to avoid the spread of rumors.

"I don't dare say that a political motive was behind the attack," Amien, who is also chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), said on Monday.

He said the attack could also be a warning to the public that Jakarta was no longer a safe place.

Akbar urged police to improve security for state officials, including speakers and deputy speakers of the Assembly and the House.

He noted a series of recent incidents, which included the murder of House member Tengku Nashiruddin Daud of the United Development Party (PPP), and a shot fired at a legislator's office.

Nashiruddin, who was Acehnese, was found dead in Sibolangit, Deli Serdang regency, North Sumatra, in January after he was reportedly abducted.

The window of the office of PPP legislator Suryadharma Ali was damaged by a gunshot on Feb. 8. The shooter remains unknown.

Meanwhile in Yogyakarta, political analyst Riswandha Imawan of Gadjah Mada University said on Monday the attack on Matori was part of the tradition of political terror conducted by the former regime.

"I don't believe it if the attack was without political motive. It was an example of political terror which was done by professionals," he said.

"Their targets are key people and politicians who are now working on investigating corruption-related cases (KKN) of the past regime."

He believed that interest groups within the military who felt threatened by the current drive for reform in TNI were among those behind the acts of terror.

He speculated there was a political conspiracy led by interest groups and the past regime's supporters who were opposed to the reform process.

The political collaboration, he added, was also aimed at disrupting the process of political harmony between the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), representing nationalist groups, and PKB, representing moderate Islamic groups.

Riswandha said he believed President Abdurrahman Wahid was the main target of the conspiracy.

Lt. Gen. (retired) Kemal Idris, chairman of the National Front (Barnas), said there was no doubt that politics was behind the attack.

"I'm sure the possibility of a political motive behind the attack is very strong as Matori is a well known politician and he is believed to have political rivals who are against his statements and his outspokenness," Kemal said.

"There was no motive for robbery behind the incident," he added after attending the 39th anniversary celebration of the Army's Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) in Cilodong, Bogor, West Java on Monday.

Kemal, also a former Kostrad chief, said police should feel challenged in resolving the case. "This is a test case for the police to win the confidence of the people, especially Jakartans."

Meanwhile Maj. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, chief of the Jakarta Military, said he would investigate the possible involvement of soldiers in the attack. (44/jun/har/rms)