Police deny charging Megawati as suspect
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The National Police denied on Thursday that they had charged Megawati Soekarnoputri, the leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), and the party's secretary-general, Pramono Anung, as suspects in a criminal defamation case.
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Soenarko D.A. told reporters that the police had never charged Megawati, who is a former president of the country, or Pramono Anung as suspects as had earlier been reported by a number of media outlets.
"We did receive a report from pak Roy about his good name being impugned by these two people, but so far the police are still investigating the matter," Soenarko said, referring to Roy B.B. Janis, a former party executive who reported the alleged defamation, together with 10 of his colleagues, to the police.
Soenarko said that police investigators had so far only questioned one witness -- Roy B.B. Janis himself -- so it was not possible for them to charge any suspects before questioning other party members, including Megawati and Pramono.
On May 16 this year, Roy B.B. Janis, along with 10 other former party members including Sophan Sophiaan, Sukowaluyo Mintohardjo, Arifin Panigoro and Laksamana Sukardi, reported Megawati and Pramono to National Police Headquarters for defamation arising out of their dismissal from the party without being given specific reasons -- something that they said adversely impinged on their reputations.
Roy, a member of the House of Representatives, also said that the PDI-P congress held in Bali last March violated the party's statutes as many of the participants had been intimidated and denied their rights to vote during the event.
The dismissed party members then started a national campaign complaining about what they said were undemocratic processes employed during the congress, and complained directly to the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. The Bali congress unanimously reelected Megawati as party leader and named Pramono Anung Wibowo secretary-general.
"The complaint was signed by pak Roy and 10 other persons. We haven't even started questioning the other ten yet," Soenarko added.
Despite Soenarko's denial, Megawati and Pramono were clearly stated to be suspects in a letter issued by the police on Monday requesting Roy to visit National Police Headquarters to provide more details on the case.
The letter, No. 901/VII/2005, was issued by the Directorate of Transnational Security at National Police Headquarters and was signed by an officer named Sr. Comr. Noer Ali.
When asked about the letter, Soenarko said that he had already checked their status with Director of the Transnational Security Brig. Gen. Pranowo Dahlan.
It is unclear whether the confusion is due to a genuine police mistake in the letter or whether it is connected with Megawati's influence among top-ranking officers.