Former officials to be grilled over tragedy

Former officials to be grilled over tragedy

JAKARTA (JP): The Military Police in cooperation with the
National Police will question a number of former government
officials under the then coordinating minister for political
affairs and security in connection with the forcible takeover of
the Indonesian Democratic Party's headquarters in 1996, an
officer said on Monday.

Maj. Gen. Djasri Marin, chief of the Military Police Corps,
said the former officials, who were part of former president
Soeharto's Cabinet, were alleged to have supported the takeover,
known as the July 27 incident, the date of its occurrence.

"The questioning will be conducted in the next two weeks," he
said after accompanying Indonesian Military Chief Adm. Widodo
A.S. in a hearing with the House of Representatives Commission I
for defense, security and foreign affairs.

Djasri refused to identify the officials in question.

Subordinates of the coordinating minister for political
affairs and security, the late Soesilo Soedarman, during the time
of the takeover, were former home affairs minister Yogie S.
Memet, former foreign minister Ali Alatas, former justice
minister Oetojo Oesman, former defense minister Gen. (ret.) Edi
Sudradjat, former armed forces chief Gen. (ret.) Feisal Tanjung,
former National Police chief Gen. (ret.) Banurusman Astrosemitro
and former attorney general Singgih.

Maj. Gen. Timor Putra Manurung, chief of the Indonesian
Military Law Institute, said the attack on the PDI headquarters
gained support from the state officials at a meeting two days
before the incident.

"This is based on testimony of Maj. Gen. (ret.) Hamaminata who
was the City Police chief at the time," Timor said. He added that
the officials wrote their decision in a document.

Hamaminata who was questioned last week testified to the
Military Police that the attack was based on the decision made in
the July 25 meeting presided over by the late Soesilo.

The former police chief said the takeover was conducted by the
Jakarta Military and City Police following instructions given by
the former officials attending that meeting.

Sutiyoso, then Jakarta Military chief, said the attack was
carried out upon an instruction from Soeharto. (rms)