Police did nothing to stop riot: Witnesses

JAKARTA (JP): Two witnesses told a court yesterday that police did nothing to stop rioters in the July 27 riot.

Aziz Buang, 64, vice chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party's (PDI) Jakarta branch, told the Central Jakarta District Court he arrived at the riot scene after the first assault on the party's headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta.

"I saw that police and other security officers did not try to restraint the angry people from repeating their attack," Aziz said.

The riot broke out when supporters of Soerjadi, the officially-backed PDI chairman, took over the party's headquarters from supporters of Megawati Soekarnoputri, whom he deposed as leader in a government-sponsored congress in Medan. Megawati is the eldest daughter of the late President Sukarno.

One hundred and twenty-four Megawati supporters are being tried for their alleged involvement in the riot. Some of them were tried in four sessions yesterday.

Aziz, a Megawati supporter, said the Central Jakarta police chief, Lt. Col. Abubakar Nataprawira, told him at the scene that the police were not ready for such a melee.

"I never foresaw there would be a clash." Aziz quoted Abubakar as saying. He said the conversation took place when the two were discussing how to reach a negotiated solution to the conflict.

Aziz said the officer told him that if Megawati's supporters were willing to leave the building he would order Soerjadi's men to disperse and then the building would not be used until the rightful occupant had been determined.

He said he told Abubakar that he had no authority to order those inside the building to come out.

Aziz said he urged the police officer to call Soerjadi to the scene but Abubakar said it was very difficult to reach the politician in this situation.

Aziz said he suddenly saw some people with red T-shirts sneaking into the building.

"I thought the situation was getting dangerous, so I left the scene," he said.

Aziz said he saw from a distance security officers force their way into the building, followed by the men in red T-shirts.

A witness told an earlier hearing many people were recruited to help Soerjadi's group take over the building and given red T- shirts.

Meanwhile another witness testified in another session yesterday that he saw one of the attackers stab a person with a bayonet.

Efendi, 46, the PDI North Jakarta branch's task force chief, testified he saw ten people injured when stones were thrown.

He said police were only busy talking on walkie-talkies and did nothing else. (08)