Megawati wants status quo on PDI HQ
Megawati wants status quo on PDI HQ
JAKARTA (JP): Lawyers representing Megawati Soekarnoputri
sought a court order yesterday declaring status quo on the
leadership of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and the right
to occupy the party's headquarters in Central Jakarta.
There was no immediate response from Judge I.G.K. Sukarata to
the request, which was made during the fourth hearing of a
lawsuit pitting Megawati against her opponents in the party and
several senior government and military officials.
Such a declaration, Megawati's lawyers hope, would mean that
she continues to be the legitimate leader of the party and is
entitled to occupy the PDI headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro.
The judge instead ordered the disputing parties yesterday to
make another attempt at an out-of-court settlement and report
back to him in three weeks' time.
In the lawsuit, Megawati asked that the court declare as
illegal the PDI congress, organized by her foes in Medan in June,
which removed her and appointed Soerjadi as chairman. The
congress was endorsed by the government and the military.
Besides Soerjadi and Buttu Hutapea, his secretary-general,
the suit names as defendants all 16 members of Megawati's board
who rebelled, along with Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung,
Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. and National Police
Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo.
Failed
In the second hearing last month, the judge ordered the
parties to settle the row amicably, but gave them only one week
to do so. The attempt failed after a series of marathon meetings.
Yesterday, he gave them more time, in spite of skepticism
expressed by lawyers representing Megawati.
"Soerjadi's camp has been so intolerant during our meetings
intended to achieve reconciliation. It's no use talking with
Soerjadi," R.O. Tambunan, who heads the team of lawyers, told the
court.
Tambunan, however, was more positive about the attitudes of
the other defendants and said that he was willing to resume
negotiations with lawyers representing the authorities.
The hearing at the Central Jakarta District Court lasted only
15 minutes. None of the parties to the dispute turned up. They
were all represented by their lawyers.
The hearing was held amid tight security as hundreds of troops
and riot police surrounded the court. Some 500 supporters of
Megawati gathered outside, but the hearing ended peacefully.
Lawyers representing Yogie, Feisal and Dibyo told the judge
that they have continued to make contacts with Megawati's lawyers
to discuss an out-of-court settlement.
It was they who suggested that the hearing be adjourned for
three weeks, until Sept. 26.
Bambang Widjojanto, a member of Megawati's team of lawyers,
argued in court for an injunction declaring status quo, pending
the outcome of the hearing.
He said that such a declaration would also prevent the
Soerjadi camp from moving into the PDI headquarters.
Tambunan added that the injunction was needed to prevent
another "bloody" fight over the building.
The building, now vacated, suffered extensive damaged after
hundreds of Soerjadi supporters stormed it on July 27 to kick out
supporters of Megawati, who had been holed up there for weeks.
The violence quickly spread into adjacent streets and turned
into a full-scale riot, which saw dozens of buildings razed.
The National Commission on Human Rights said last week that
five people were killed, 149 were injured and 74 were missing in
the aftermath of the riot.
In the lawsuit, Megawati is also asking for Rp 51 trillion
(US$22 billion) in damages from the defendants.
Tambunan explained yesterday that the money would be needed to
cover the extensive damage to the PDI headquarters. (imn/16)