Parties ready for legal battle

Parties ready for legal battle

JAKARTA: A coalition of 13 political parties completed on
Thursday documents to be presented at court when they file a
lawsuit against three major parties for abusing Rp 15 trillion
(US$1.7 billion) in state assets.

Ikhsan Abdullah, head of the legal team representing the 13
parties, said he had obtained the signatures of National Mandate
Party (PAN) chairman Amien Rais and New Indonesia Alliance Party
(PPIB) chairman Sjahrir required in the legal battle.

He said the first court hearing was expected to take place
early next month.

"At the first hearing, we will ask the court to summon the
leaders of the major political parties," Ikhsan said, referring
to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the
Golkar Party and the United Development Party (PPP).

The three are accused of using state assets, such as buildings
and office equipment, for their own interests. The facilities
were provided by the Soeharto administration, which simplified
the political party system in 1975 into a three-way competition.

PDI-P is based in the headquarters of the former Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI), which was provided state property by the
Soeharto regime for its use. After Soeharto was deposed, PDI
splintered into two parties, the minor PDI Party and PDI-P, the
latter of which was officially registered in 1999 and is
considered the successor of PDI.

Apart from PAN and PPIB, the plaintiffs include the National
Awakening Party (PKB) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). --
Antara