Attack on Matori 'politically motivated'

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)