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