Military officers involved in July 27 incident: Yusril

Military officers involved in July 27 incident: Yusril

JAKARTA (JP): A joint civilian-military court will try alleged
perpetrators of the 1996 bloody takeover of the Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI) Headquarters, a minister said on Monday.

Minister of Law and Legislation Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the
decision to establish a joint tribunal was taken after the police
found traces of the involvement of military officers.

"The police have named seven civilian suspects, but are
finding difficulties investigating the possible involvement of
military officers.

"We promise to form a joint team to probe the alleged role of
military personnel, which will lead to the establishment of the
joint tribunal," Yusril said after a closed meeting with members
of the House of Representatives Commission I for political,
security and foreign affairs and the House's Commission II for
legal and domestic affairs.

National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo, Indonesian Military
(TNI) Commander Adm. Widodo A.S. and Minister of Defense Juwono
Sudarsono also attended the hearing.

The joint military-civilian team is expected to complete its
work at least in two weeks, according to Yusril.

Juwono said during the joint hearing that about 20 people,
including military officers, were recommended for investigation
by the team.

"But we have agreed to keep the names (to ourselves) for a
while," Juwono told reporters. He declined to mention the ranks
of the military personnel.

Yusril also refused to identify the military officers linked
to the attack on July 27, 1996 which followed a split in the
party. Those that defended the PDI Headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro
were supporters of Megawati Soekarnoputri, who was ousted in a
government-backed breakaway congress which reelected Soerjadi.

Soerjadi tops the list of suspects in the case.

During Monday's hearing Rusdihardjo told the legislators the
run-up of police investigation into the forcible takeover. Dozens
were killed in the riot following the attack, while others went
missing.

Juwono added that during the hearing TNI chief Widodo appeared
to fully support the investigation into some military officers
allegedly involved in the attack.

"The military leadership have good will; they don't want to
conceal any wrongdoing and want this case to be settled
immediately," Juwono said.

Rusdihardjo corroborated the decision to put the case on
public trial, saying that the casualties of the takeover were
mostly civilians.

"Since the case mostly affected civilians, it should be
brought to a public court," Rusdihardjo said after the hearing.

Police have questioned several top officers who were in charge
when the attack took place, including then Armed Forces commander
Gen. Feisal Tanjung, National Police chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo,
Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata, Jakarta Military
commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso and the Armed Forces chief of social
and political affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid. (bby/jun)