Moerdiono denies making plan to attack PDI headquarters

Moerdiono denies making plan to attack PDI headquarters

JAKARTA (JP): Former minister/state secretary Moerdiono denied
on Wednesday that a ministerial meeting prior to the violent
takeover of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) headquarters on
July 27, 1996 had been the organizing base for the attack.

Moerdiono echoed former minister of defense and security Gen.
(ret) Edi Sudradjat's statement before a joint military/police
investigation team on Tuesday.

"As far as I can remember, the mood of the meeting did not
reflect that an attack was planned on PDI headquarters,"
Moerdiono said, referring to the ministerial coordination meeting
on politics and security affairs which was held on July 25, 1996.

He was speaking to reporters after being questioned by the
joint team at the National Police headquarters.

Moerdiono said that it had been decided in the meeting that a
free speech forum, which had been held at the PDI headquarters on
Jl. Diponegoro in Central Jakarta, should be stopped because it
had disturbed public order.

"But, the forum was supposed to be stopped according to the
law," Moerdiono said.

He declined to elaborate, however, when asked about the
procedures that the meeting had recommended to stop the forum.

"That's technical," he said.

The free speech forum was held at the party headquarters on a
daily basis by supporters of then party chairperson, now
incumbent Vice President, Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The forum was stopped when a mob, allegedly backed by elements
in the then Armed Forces (ABRI), attacked the headquarters.

The action, which involved supporters of a PDI splinter group
led by Soerjadi, left at least five people dead and 23 others
reportedly still missing. The attack triggered massive unrest in
Central Jakarta.

The joint team is currently questioning several figures who
participated in several meetings prior to the incident which
reportedly planned the party headquarters takeover.

Former minister of information Harmoko was questioned on Oct.
30 for attending a meeting allegedly related to the incident
which was attended by several former ministers including then
minister of justice Oetojo Oesman, then minister of home affairs
Moch. Yogie S.M., and Edi Sudradjat.

Golkar's former secretary-general Ary Mardjono was questioned
on Monday. (jaw)