Edi denies meeting discussed violent PDI HQ takeover

JAKARTA (JP): Former minister of defense and security Edi Sudradjat admitted on Tuesday that a ministerial meeting discussing efforts to put a halt to an ongoing free speech forum, was held prior to the attack on the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) headquarters on July 27, 1996.

However, Edi said, the meeting had not recommended the efforts to be carried out in a violent fashion.

"A coordinative ministerial meeting on political and security affairs was held on July 25, 1996, discussing efforts to stop the free speech forum," Edi said after he was questioned by a joint military-police team at National Police Headquarters.

Edi did not elaborate on the other people who attended the meeting.

The retired four-star general said the meeting recommended that the forum should be stopped since it caused traffic jams and inconvenienced nearby residents.

"Orators at the forum had violated the Criminal Code by trying to influence others to go against the government," he said.

The free speech forum was held at the PDI headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro in Central Jakarta on a daily basis by supporters of then party chairwoman, now incumbent Vice President, Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The forum stopped when a mob, allegedly backed by elements from the Armed Forces (ABRI), violently attacked the headquarters.

The action, which involved supporters of a PDI splinter group led by Soerjadi, left five dead with 23 others reported missing. The attack also triggered unrest in Central Jakarta.

The joint team is questioning several former top military and police officers and government officials who allegedly attended several meetings reportedly held prior to the incident to plan a takeover of the headquarters.

Former minister of information Harmoko was questioned on Oct. 30 for his alleged attendance at another meeting which was reportedly attended by several ministers, including Harmoko, then minister of justice Oetojo Oesman, then minister of home affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. and Edi.

Meanwhile, Golkar's former secretary-general was questioned on Monday for allegedly attending several meetings which planned the attack.

Edi dismissed the allegation that the July 25 meeting was the basis for the attack, saying that the accusation was more or less meant to find a scapegoat for the case.

"The person who was responsible (for the attack) was the person who was in charge of (ABRI's) operation," Edi said, but refused to elaborate. (jaw)