Government wants polemic on July 27 riot stopped

JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman said yesterday that controversy over the July 27, 1996, riots was inappropriate and should be stopped.

Speaking after chairing a coordinative ministerial meeting on political affairs and security, Soesilo said there should be no further dispute over the government's commitment to reveal the truth behind the riots.

"The government has put all its efforts into finding all the persons missing in the July 27 riots," he said.

"The government, through Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono, had responded to the recommendations of the National Commission on Human Rights. Who are those people still refuse to accept this reality?" he asked.

In its report, published in October, the rights commission criticized the government for meddling in the internal affairs of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), and said this had contributed to the riots.

According to the rights commission, the riots left five people dead, 149 injured and 23 missing.

Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. had said Wednesday that the July 27 issue was over and should no longer be disputed.

"It's over. Why do you still insist on digging up the past?" Yogie told reporters after installing members of a screening committee to examine incoming legislators.

The July 27 riots were triggered by a takeover of the PDI headquarters by pro-Soerjadi forces.

Soerjadi regained the party's chairmanship after a government- recognized congress in the North Sumatra capital of Medan in June last year.

He ousted Megawati Soekarnoputri, who was elected PDI chairwoman by a popular vote in Surabaya in 1993.

After the incident, Megawati and her supporters sued the government and Soerjadi, challenging the validity of the new PDI central board. The lawsuits are currently being tried in courts of appeal nationwide.

On Sunday, hundreds of Megawati supporters tried to mark the anniversary of the takeover by going to the PDI headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta.

They were turned away by a tight security cordon thrown over the area.

Soesilo also told the press to avoid mentioning Megawati's PDI faction.

"I do not want you to mention Megawati's faction anymore because it does not exist. The only lawful PDI central board is led by Soerjadi," he said.

He said the fact that Soerjadi's faction only obtained 11 seats in the House of Representatives in the May 29 general election was Soerjadi's own problem.

"The most important thing is that the press should not make the people confused," he said.

When confronted that it was Soerjadi himself who was reeling from the election results, Soesilo told journalists to speak directly to the PDI chairman.

Commenting on Soerjadi's rather "silent" attitude lately, Soesilo said the PDI chairman might be unwilling to talk to the press.

The usually receptive Soerjadi has been unwilling lately to entertain questions from the media over the latest developments in the party and their preparations for the upcoming general meeting of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

The 1,000-strong MPR will convene in March next year to elect the new President and Vice President and to adopt the five-yearly Guidelines on State Policy. (imn)