Djody sclarifies his stance on Kostrad meeting

JAKARTA (JP): Businessman Setiawan Djody on Friday stepped into the furor over a meeting he attended at the Army's Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) on May 14 during the height of the bloody riots in the capital.

Djody said he could not confirm whether there was more than one meeting on May 14 at the site, but added that Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto knew about the meeting "in the next 24 hours".

"We started the meeting at 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. and I do not know whether there was any further meeting... I do not work there and I am not Prabowo's assistant," Djody told a media conference at a Central Jakarta hotel.

Djody was referring to the then Kostrad chief Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto. He has since been discharged for his role in the abduction and torture of political activists.

In releasing its findings on Tuesday, the government-assigned joint fact-finding team (TGPF) on the May riots sparked controversy by recommending that the government conduct an investigation into the meeting to better understand the riots.

It endorsed the probe "to reveal and ascertain the role of Prabowo and other parties in the whole process which precipitated the riots". More than 1,000 people died in the unrest which contributed to the downfall of Soeharto several days later.

TGPF verified the rape of 52 women, mostly Chinese- Indonesians, during the riots.

At the news conference, Djody was accompanied by noted poet W.S. Rendra, another participant in the May 14 meeting.

Djody confirmed Wednesday's statement of Prabowo's brother, businessman Hashim Djojohadikusumo, that the meeting was held at the initiative of noted rights advocate Adnan Buyung Nasution.

"Buyung asked us to go with him to meet Prabowo to ask about the situation in the country," Djody said, adding he had tried to call Prabowo on the morning of May 14.

Djody revealed that he receive confirmation on Prabowo's availability from Fahmi Idris, now minister of manpower.

"Prabowo then called me back and said that we could meet him at Kostrad headquarters after the evening prayer," Djody said.

Djody added that a Golkar leader, Din Syamsuddin, was already at Kostrad headquarters in Central Jakarta when he arrived.

Both Djody and Rendra said there was nothing special about the meeting and were unfazed by TGPF's recommendation.

"We have no objection to TGPF's report because there was nothing special in the meeting... we are artists and have no political interests," said Djody, who is also a noted musician.

Djody said Buyung asked Prabowo about allegations that he was involved in the fatal shooting of four Trisakti University students on May 12 and whether the rumored friction between Prabowo and Wiranto was true.

Prabowo denied the allegations, Djody said.

Hashim has claimed there was nothing secret about the meeting. He said discussions included criticism toward the government by Buyung and his friends, that the situation was getting out of hand and that the Soeharto administration had to resign.

Hashim also said Prabowo had taken part in no other meeting on May 14.

Wiranto honorably discharged Prabowo from the military in August and released the then new Kopassus chief, Maj. Gen. Muchdi, and another Kopassus officer, Col. Chairawan, from active duty for their involvement in the abduction and torture of activists.

The TGPF report added that former Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin should also be held responsible for the lax security during the riots.

TGPF linked the riots to an alleged conspiracy of various parties, including elements within the military seeking to create an emergency situation which would justify the invocation of "extraordinary constitutional powers". (byg)