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 Megawati's lawyers say this law is outdated.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)