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)