East jakarta mayoralty closes Megawati's HQ

JAKARTA (JP): The East Jakarta Mayoralty closed down yesterday a two-story house in Condet, East Jakarta, which was being used by Megawati Soekarnoputri as headquarters for her Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) executive board.

Radjak Gogi, the head of the mayoralty's law and order division, led a team of about 50 officers to put up three signboards declaring that the property on Jl. Raya Tengah No. 1, is closed for any political activities.

Another 50 officers from the East Jakarta Police Precinct, led by its chief Lt. Col. Gories Mere, accompanied the team.

About 50 people, including board executives, Megawati's lawyers and supporters, did not resist as they silently watched, some smoking cigarettes, while officers attached the signboards; one to the main gate, one on the main door and another on a window.

They all went back into the house after the officers left.

A local resident told the officers that the presence of the PDI office had not disturbed him or the neighborhood in the least.

Megawati was not on the premise.

The signboards, signed by East Jakarta Mayor Soedarsono, cited a number of ordinances which state that houses in residential areas cannot be used for office or commercial purposes.

"Based on these, the Mayoralty closes the property, and bars any activity by Megawati's PDI Central Executive Board. Anyone who breaks this sign could be prosecuted."

"This property is closed and no more activities are permitted until they have the Mayoralty's approval," Radjak told reporters.

Haryanto Taslam, deputy secretary-general under Megawati, said: "The government really wants to ban our activities, not merely seal the building off."

One of Megawati's lawyers, Nusirwan A. Thabrani, said that the headquarters will move to an as yet undisclosed location.

"We, including the lawyers, will vacate this premise," he said.

Nusirwan disclosed that the lawyers are looking at the possibility of suing the Mayor, through the state administrative court, for discriminatory practices.

Many houses in other residential areas have been converted into offices but no action has been taken against them, he said.

Megawati had written approval from the local subdistrict chief to use the property for the party's headquarters and the house had been used as an office by its previous tenants, he said.

Megawati set up her new secretariat in Condet early this month after losing the old PDI office on Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta, in a violent clash in July with supporters of Soerjadi, chairman of the officially-recognized PDI board.

Separately, Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said there was no political motive in closing Megawati office.

"Basically, our principle is that all buildings must be used in accordance with their permits," he said. (16/anr)