Megawati denies ties with PRD

JAKARTA (JP): The ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Megawati Soekarnoputri, has denied having links with the unrecognized Democratic People's Party (PRD), a youth organization accused of communist-like activities and of masterminding the recent violent riots.

In her testimony yesterday before the police investigating the July 27 riots, Megawati denied any knowledge of any plans to incite rioting or of having personally known PRD chairman Budiman Sudjatmiko, now being hunted by the authorities.

She also said she did not know whether Budiman had agitated the public through speeches he delivered at the free speech public forum at the party headquarters prior to the rioting, as the authorities have charged.

"I never knew whether Budiman Sudjatmiko had delivered speeches at the free speech forum," Megawati was quoted by one of her lawyers, R.O. Tambunan, as telling the police investigators.

Controversial PDI legislator Aberson Marle Sihaloho, who was summoned along with Megawati, similarly denied knowing Budiman.

"I have no idea who Budiman was," Aberson said, as quoted by Tambunan.

The PRD is an umbrella group for student, worker and farmer organizations. It was set up in 1995 to channel pro-democracy demands. It has been accused of masterminding the riots that erupted in Jakarta on Saturday, July 27, and the smaller waves of protest that followed the forced takeover of the disputed PDI headquarters.

According to the military, 170 people have been detained for questioning in connection with the riots, which left three people dead, 22 buildings burned and damaged and dozens injured.

Budiman is still in hiding.

A group of top-notch defense lawyers followed Megawati and Aberson to the city police headquarters. Dozens of foreign and local journalists waited for hours outside the main building cordoned off with police lines, but were denied access to Megawati.

Megawati was accompanied by R.O. Tambunan, Tumbu Saraswati, R. Dwiyanto Prihartono and Terkelin Brahmana. Aberson was joined by Bambang Widjojanto, Max Junus Lamuda, Nusirwan A. Thabrani and Ben Silitonga.

The six-hour questioning, beginning at 9:30 a.m., was held in the interrogation room of the City Police Investigation Department. The questioning of Megawati was led by Capt. Sri Hastuti, while that of Aberson was led by Capt. Tugino.

Later in the day, Megawati addressed a press briefing at her home in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta. She condemned the "bloody attack" on the party headquarters which then led to the mass rioting.

She condemned Soerjadi, her rival who ousted her in a government-backed rebel congress in June, for ordering the takeover. The action was a violation of the state ideology, Pancasila, and the 1945 Constitution, she said.

"Soerjadi has justified all means in order to reach his goals, something which resembled the ways of the outlawed Indonesian Communist Party," Megawati said.

Megawati has consistently defended the legitimacy of her leadership, saying that until the Central Jakarta District Court (where she filed a lawsuit against the government and the committee of the rebel congress) rules otherwise, she is still the lawful party leader.

She also said her faction is considering to dismiss Soerjadi from the House of Representatives. Soerjadi is currently deputy House Speaker, a position higher than that held by Megawati, who is also a legislator. However, he is also a PDI legislator who answers to the party's central executive board.

Megawati also defended the free speech forum, saying it was set up following an agreement between her faction and Chief of the Jakarta Regional Military Command Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso as a way to give her supporters a venue to voice their aspirations so they would not have to take to the streets.

Megawati also disclosed that she and Aberson would face further questioning next Thursday.

Lawyer Bambang Widjojanto said that the police investigators questioned Aberson mostly on the free speech forum and his alleged relationship with Budiman Sudjatmiko.

Bambang also said that the next PDI executives to soon be questioned were Sophan Sophiaan, Sukowaluyo Mintorahardjo, Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno and Sabam Sirait. All of them are PDI legislators.

"Sophan Sophiaan and Sukowaluyo will be questioned on Monday, while Soetardjo and Sabam will be questioned on Tuesday," he said. (imn/bsr)

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