Immigration denies banning Megawati

JAKARTA (JP): Director General of Immigration Pranowo denied reports yesterday that his office had banned the ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Megawati Soekarnoputri, from traveling abroad.

"It's not true. Megawati is not on the blacklist and she is free to go wherever she wants," Pranowo said.

Megawati was reportedly stopped by immigration officials Saturday morning at Soekarno-Hatta international airport while trying to board a Garuda Airways flight to Singapore.

She subsequently demanded that the immigration officials provide written proof that she was not allowed to leave the country. They failed to do so and she boarded the plane.

The blacklist contains the names of nearly 700 Indonesians who are prohibited from leaving the country for criminal or political reasons, Antara reported.

Megawati has been summoned for questioning three times in the last fortnight regarding the events surrounding the riots that were triggered by the takeover of the PDI headquarters on July 27.

Pranowo maintained that Megawati's departure was proof that she was not on the blacklist.

"They left for Singapore on Garuda flight number GA 938 at eight in the morning through terminal E," he said.

He said that if she was stopped for a few minutes for questioning by immigration officials it was merely a routine inspection. (mds)