Police formally bans PDI free speech forum

JAKARTA (JP): The National Police has formally banned the free speech forum held daily by the overthrown faction of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) on the grounds that it disrupts public order and is becoming an unconstitutional gathering.

The ban, dated July 23, was issued by the Chief of the Menteng sub-district police, Capt. Zulkarnain, and delivered to the party's headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta, in the evening of the same day.

"They (Megawati's supporters) have been asked to immediately stop the free speech forum," chief spokesman for City Police Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna told reporters yesterday.

Iman was accompanied by spokesman for the Jakarta's Coordinating Board for National Stability Lt. Col. Didi Supandi.

Reading the police decree, Iman said that the ban was issued because the free speech forum had become an arena in which speakers provoked people to topple the government.

"The free speech forum has also disrupted public order and caused traffic jams around the party's headquarters," he said.

The ruling political grouping Golkar yesterday expressed opposition to the free speech forum. Deputy chairman Pinantun Hutasoit warned about the forum being used for "political revenge".

He did not say what he meant by political revenge. He said that the free speech forum set back Indonesia's political development by half a century.

"The free speech forum and the increasing number of street protests show that our national unity is in trouble," he was quoted by Antara as saying. He added that it was best for political players to negotiate conflicts among themselves.

He also said that the free speech forum did not benefit people's political education.

"I notice a political maneuver behind the free speech forum. I hope the forum is not being held partly for political revenge, but as an expression of dissatisfaction with the performance of national political institutions," he said.

He said he regretted that the forum had become involved with international institutions: "It has become a political commodity for both local and foreign consumers."

He said that Megawati's supporters, who established the forum, should use the law to air their grievances. "Let's solve problems in the traditionally acceptable way, namely through discussion," he said.

Yesterday, some students and activists of non-governmental organizations in Bandung criticized the Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander, Gen. Feisal Tanjung, and the Armed Forces Chief for Sociopolitical Affairs, Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, for saying that the speakers at the PDI free speech forum were striving to attack and overthrow the government.

Calling themselves the "Solidarity for Democracy" group, they said that neither Feisal nor Syarwan had any legal basis for their accusations: "They lacked evidence to prove their allegations that there had been a plan to overthrow the government."

Also yesterday, a member of the National Commission of Human Rights, Muladi, criticized the overthrown PDI leader, Megawati Soekarnoputri, for discussing the conflict besetting the party with a foreign statesman.

"I deeply regret that PDI leaders discussed the party's internal dispute with a foreign statesman," he said in Semarang on Tuesday, commenting on Sunday's meeting between Megawati and U.S. human rights activist Jesse Jackson.

Muladi expressed hope that Megawati and Soerjadi, who ousted her in a rebel congress last month, would eventually be willing to meet to overcome their rift.

"The rights commission is ready to mediate," he said. (bsr/imn/16/17)