Police question four leading opposition politicians

JAKARTA (JP): Amid growing signs of a crackdown on opposition figures, police summoned four prominent government critics for questioning on Sunday.

Former Jakarta Governor Marine Lt. Gen. (ret) Ali Sadikin, former chief of the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) Lt. Gen. (ret) A. Kemal Idris, businessman Meilono Soewondo and politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas were summoned for questioning under the controversial law on subversion.

Bintang, who was reached for comment en route to the National Police Headquarters, said he had been summoned along with Ali, 71, and Kemal, 75. No details surrounding Meilono's summons were immediately available.

Ali is chairman of Petisi 50, a group of retired senior military officers and public figures critical of the government, and Kemal is a leader of the National Front opposition group.

Bintang, who was released from prison in May, said he had been summoned under Article 107 and Article 110 of the Criminal Code, which deal with subversion. If convicted, he could face a maximum penalty of lifetime imprisonment.

Adnan Buyung Nasution from the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI), who is representing Kemal, said during a news conference that it was not clear why his client had been questioned by the police.

Buyung said it was "completely baseless" to arrest the four figures on charges of subversion.

"There has been a (seemingly deliberate) effort to divert attention from the issue of military brutality and focus it on the issue of subversion ... who could have planted that thought in (President) Habibie's head?" Buyung said.

On Saturday, in a televised address on the security situation, President B.J. Habibie spoke of groups indulging in actions that are tantamount to rebellions.

"This is a test case for Habibie. It is a chance for him to show that he is not the military's puppet," Buyung said when asked if he thought Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto was behind the arrests.

Pressure has amounted for Wiranto to resign since last week's violent clashes between the security forces and students that claimed 15 lives.

Outspoken former minister Sarwono Kusumaatmadja lashed out at the government's attempt to charge opposition politicians with subversion, saying it smacked of panic and was a waste of time and effort.

"It is folly on the part of the government. It has cornered itself with the use of violence and by pitting civilians against civilians. Now they are trying to lay the blame on Pak Kemal's group ... the government has lost all of its remaining legitimacy.

"Wiranto should resign immediately," Sarwono told The Jakarta Post.

The respected Movement for Indonesian Justice and Unity (GKPB) said in a statement that the questioning of opposition politicians was a "panic act" that would only serve to further degrade the dignity of Habibie's government and exacerbate tension in the country.

On Saturday, police questioned Hariadi Darmawan and Roch Basoeki Mangoenprojo on similar charges.

Sarwono said the two returned home on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Antara quoted politician J.M. Hidayat as saying that he was ready to face police questioning along with 16 other prominent public figures who issued a joint communique calling for Habibie's government to be replaced.

The joint communique issued last Thursday called for the establishment of a "Provisional People's Consultative Assembly" and, eventually, a presidium which would serve as a provisional government up until the general election next year.

Ali Sadikin, Kemal Idris, economist Sri Edi Swasono and Sukmawati Soekarnoputri, the youngest daughter of founding president Sukarno were among signatories to the communique.

Meanwhile on Sunday evening, three members of the National Front opposition group met Moslem leader Abdurrahman Wahid to discuss comments made by Habibie during a televised address to the nation on Saturday. During the broadcast, the President said that radical groups were seeking to topple his government.

After the meeting, Abdurrahman questioned the government's definition of subversion and said: "If it means having a different opinion from the government, than the whole nation is guilty.

"Remember, the truth is not the government's alone." (aan)