Megawati denies ties with PRD

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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