Police formally bans PDI free speech forum

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)