Decision on Megawati's suits to be made soon

JAKARTA (JP): The Supreme Court has made deliberation of the lawsuit filed against the government by opposition leader Megawati Soekarnoputri a priority and will soon announce its decision, Chief Justice Sarwata said here yesterday.

Sarwata said the significance of the case was highlighted by the fact that it had evolved into a national issue and attracted great public attention.

"God willing, it will be decided shortly. However I cannot state the precise date," said Sarwata, accompanied by his deputy, Ketut Suraputra, and the Court secretary general Pranowo, after meeting with President B.J. Habibie.

Megawati was ousted as chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) by Soerjadi during a government backed congress in July 1996.

However, Megawati continued to claim that she was the legitimate PDI leader and she and her supporters filed several lawsuits against the government and the congress organizers.

Megawati's close advisor Kwik Kian Gie said on Friday that Megawati and her supporters have filed a total of 200 lawsuits against central and local government officials.

The plaintiffs include then minister of home affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. (now a member of the Supreme Advisory Council), former Armed Forces chief of socio-political affairs Syarwan Hamid (currently Minister of Home Affairs) and the then Armed Forces commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung (currently Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security).

Kwik said Megawati's supporters have won seven cases at local district courts in Marahaban, East Kalimantan; Manado, North Sulawesi; Sukabumi and Bekasi in West Java; Pekanbaru, Riau; Tebing Tinggi, North Sumatra; and Denpasar, Bali.

Megawati's camp has expressed fear that the Supreme Court will delay its verdict until after next year's general election.

Later yesterday evening, Minister of Justice Muladi gave assurances that the government would not interfere in the case and said the Supreme Court would be allowed to make an independent decision.

"The government will not interfere in Megawati's case, I can assure you," Muladi said after a separate meeting with Habibie.

Habibie summoned Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto, Attorney General Mohammad Ghalib and Minister of Information Mohammad Yunus to his office.

Muladi said they were told to intensify the dissemination of the government regulation in lieu of a law on "freedom of expression".

The controversial new measure has come under strong criticism for its stringent regulation of demonstrations.

Muladi gave assurances that the House of Representatives would have the final say on the issue.

"If it is rejected then that's the end of that. It will be revoked," he remarked yesterday, adding that such a prerogative was guaranteed in the Constitution.

"But we could always develop a new custom in which it is accepted with several modifications. That would be good even though its never been done," he said hopefully. (prb)