Military investigate Ibrahim Saleh

JAKARTA (JP): The military has taken over from the police in questioning Brig. Gen. (ret.) Ibrahim Saleh for entering the People's Consultative Assembly building without proper ID while a session was taking place.

Lt. Col. DJ. Nachrowi, spokesman for the Jakarta Military, however refused to state whether Ibrahim was questioned as a suspect or a witness. "We consider him a senior member of the Armed Forces family," Nachrowi said.

Ibrahim is currently being held at Jakarta Police Military headquarters for further questioning.

He was detained Friday after entering the MPR premises with a Dutch TV crew, some of whom did not have valid passes either.

Ibrahim, made famous by his "interruption" of the 1988 MPR session, also visited the MPR compound Monday last week, apparently using a 1993 observer pass.

He disseminated leaflets explaining MPR members' right to interrupt a proceeding and also gave endorsement to the nomination of Soeharto and B.J. Habibie as president and vice president.

Saleh, who retired from the military in 1994, had served as an Armed Forces legislator. (09)