Megawati faces fresh police questioning
JAKARTA (JP): Ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri is facing a fresh round of police questioning for holding a "political meeting" without an official permit at her residence on Jan. 10.
Megawati, who was grilled last year as a witness in the case of the well-known July 27 riots in Jakarta, will be questioned with her husband Taufik Kiemas.
Chief of the South Jakarta Police Detective Capt. Ricko Almenza said here yesterday the police have received a letter from the Attorney General's office authorizing them to question the two politicians.
"We received the letter this afternoon and we are going to meet tonight to decide when to summon them," Ricko told The Jakarta Post yesterday.
Megawati and Taufik will be questioned as witnesses to the event on Jan. 10 when, with hundreds of Megawati's supporters, they celebrated the PDI's 24th anniversary at their house in South Jakarta.
Megawati "disguised" the gathering as a breaking of the fast dinner, at which she issued a political statement attacking the government-backed Soerjadi who toppled her at a rebel congress in Medan last year. She also criticized the government for meddling in the PDI's internal affairs.
The anniversary party was held in defiance of Armed Forces Commander Feisal Tanjung's threat to take punitive action if it was held without an official permit.
The Attorney General's Office announced Monday it had been given the green light by President Soeharto to take legal action against Megawati and Taufik, who are both members of the House of Representatives.
Under Indonesian law, the President's approval must be sought for the police to question a House member.
Meanwhile, Megawati's lawyer R.O. Tambunan said he had not received notice from police about the planned questioning.
"We will find out before we determine our stand," he told the Post.
Megawati and her husband are liable to prosecution under Law No. 5 of 1963, which stipulates that official permits are required for political activities. It carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment. (08)