Megawati knew of attack plan

Megawati knew of attack plan

JAKARTA (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri, the ousted leader of the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), gave her first testimony at
her supporters' trial yesterday, saying she knew of the planned
forced takeover of the party headquarters by Soerjadi loyalists
two days before July 27.

Wearing a white and red dress, Megawati, the eldest daughter
of the late president Sukarno, told the Central Jakarta District
Court that two days before the riot, an "important person," whose
identity she would not reveal, had called her, warning that a
rival group wanted to take over the PDI headquarters by force
from her loyalists.

She said the caller told her the assault would be carried out
by followers of Soerjadi, the man who overthrew her in a
government-backed congress in June.

Megawati said she asked the caller, "Why by a violent way,
isn't there a better way?"

She said she warned the caller that if this happened it could
destabilize the nation. "PDI is a lawful political party," she
repeatedly told the caller.

Soerjadi supporters attacked the headquarters on July 27,
leaving five people dead, 23 missing and 149 injured, according
to the National Commission on Human Rights.

Several buildings nearby were burned down by angry mobs. The
violent takeover was met by strong reactions at home and abroad.

One-hundred-and-twenty-four Megawati supporters were tried
simultaneously in six separate sessions at the Central Jakarta
District Court yesterday. They were indicted for their
involvement in the riot and for disobeying a police order to
vacate the headquarters.

Megawati told the court yesterday she had not received an
official request to vacate the party headquarters.

The court room was packed by visitors, including local and
foreign journalists.

In response to a judge's question whether she had received a
request to vacate the premises from the new PDI leader, Megawati
said: "What do you mean by the new PDI leader?"

"The one the newspapers always mention today," answered the
judge.

Megawati said she had no idea about this.

According to her, the riot occurred when she was at home, on
Jl. Kebagusan, South Jakarta. At around 7:00 a.m. on July 27,
Megawati's servant told her the PDI headquarters was being
attacked.

Megawati said she tried to call the headquarters but the lines
were busy. She also unsuccessfully tried to contact members of
the party's executive board.

She said that half an hour later she received a call from one
of her supporters who was defending the headquarters, confirming
the attack but begging her not to go there.

"I then ordered him to tell other party activists to restrain
from any acts of violence," she said.

Megawati said that after a while the Central Jakarta police
chief, Lt. Col. Abubakar Nataprawira, who was at the riot, called
and asked her to agree that the status of the building was
"status quo".

Abubakar said status quo meant that her supporters must vacate
the building while those who wanted to occupy it should remain
outside, according to Megawati.

Megawati said Abubakar then handed the telephone to one of her
supporters, and she told the person that status quo meant "those
defending the building should remain inside."

At one of the six court hearings yesterday, 12 defendants
insisted on saying they did not hear the police order to vacate
the headquarters and that this was contrary to the indictment.
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