Legislator to testify over attack

JAKARTA: Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) legislator Alex Litaay will appear at the Jakarta District Court on Wednesday to testify about the takeover of the party's office on July 27, 1996.

Alex was the party's secretary-general when the incident occurred, leaving at least five people dead.

Two soldiers, Col. Budi Purnama and First Lt. Suharto, and three civilians, Mochamad Tanjung, Jonathan Marpaung and Rahimi Ilyas, are on trial for the takeover.

The National Commission on Human Rights has announced that five people were killed and 149 others injured during the riots that followed the attack.

The incident catapulted party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri to popularity and helped her party win the 1999 general election. -- Antara