Police summons more Megawati loyalists

Police summons more Megawati loyalists

JAKARTA (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri's deputy, legislator Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, will be questioned by South Jakarta police today as their investigation continues into the Jan. 10 gathering at her home.

Police have said the gathering, hosted by the ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), was illegal.

They have named Haryanto Taslam, Megawati's deputy secretary- general, as their only suspect.

Megawati and her husband Taufik Kiemas have been summoned for questioning twice over the gathering. During her latest interrogation on March 3, thousands of people went to the police station to support her.

One of her lawyers, RO Tambunan, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the police had summoned three other Megawati loyalists on Saturday for questioning this week and next week.

I Gusti Ngurah Sara was scheduled to be questioned on March 21, Laksamana Sukardi on March 24 and Mangara M. Siahaan on March 25, Tambunan said.

South Jakarta Police chief detective Capt. Rycko Amelza confirmed the authorities had summoned them.

Taslam chaired the organizing committee of the PDI anniversary party on Jan. 10 at Megawati's home in South Jakarta.

The event, disguised as a breaking-of-the-fast dinner, was attended by hundreds of Megawati supporters who had come to hear her speech.

The event was held at the same time as another PDI anniversary celebration in Sulawesi, held by the government-backed PDI leader Soerjadi, who ousted Megawati.

Anyone found guilty of holding an unlawful gathering can be imprisoned for a year under Law No. 5. 1963 on political gatherings. Megawati's lawyers say this law is outdated. (aan)