PRD accuses Akbar of defamation
JAKARTA (JP): The Democratic People's Party (PRD) filed a police complaint on Friday against chairman of the Golkar Party, Akbar Tandjung, and its deputy chairman, Mahadi Sinambela, for accusing PRD of being behind the vandalism of Golkar offices in East Java.
PRD chief Budiman Sudjatmiko, accompanied by lawyers Summa Miharja, Paulus Mahulete and Noni Tri Purwaningsih, challenged the Golkar Party to come up with material evidence to support their charges against PRD.
"Golkar has accused PRD of burning their offices in East Java, but they have no material evidence. If they have any, show it to us. Do not just accuse us without proof," Budiman told reporters at the National Police Headquarters.
"PRD has never instructed anyone, or been a part of the burning and destruction of Golkar offices anywhere."
Budiman also challenged Akbar and Mahadi to hold an open public debate with him on the matter of the accusations.
"I am sure that they will not be able to do it, since they have nobody intelligent enough in their party to hold a debate in which proof is needed to support whatever statement you make," Budiman said.
Akbar had accused PRD, City Forum (Forkot), Student Action Forum for Reform and Democracy (Famred) and the City Network (Jarkot) of being the orchestrators of the vandalism on Thursday.
Golkar officially filed a report with the National Police over the vandalization and torching of the party's offices in East Java, saying that it had caused the party losses of more than Rp 20 billion (US$2 million).
The party also filed a complaint with the police alleging libel against Hasyim Muzadi, the chairman of the country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, who reportedly said that Golkar was behind the student rally which demand Gus Dur's resignation.
City Forum (Forkot) on Friday demanded Akbar to apologize to the student groups for his statement about their role in the vandalism in East Java.
Forkot spokesman Muri Sabu said that Akbar should make the apology in the next 48 hours.
"Otherwise, we will find justice in our own way," Muri said at the office of the Indonesian Legal Aid Association (PBHI), as quoted by Antara.
Separately, National Police Spokesman Brig. Gen. Saleh Saaf said on Friday that the memorandum by the House of Representatives to censure President Abdurrahman Wahid is lacking in legal facts,
"The testimonies handed over by the House's special committee is just preliminary information that needs to be clarified further. It is not sufficient as legally acceptable evidence," Saleh said.
Police, in cooperation with the Attorney General's Office, are still studying the memorandum, he said.
He said the police would also consult with several legal experts to study the results of the House's special committee which is investigating two scandals linked to President.
"We will soon decide our stance on the matter," Saleh said.
Separately the Bishops's Council of Indonesia (KWI) in a statement on Thursday called all sides, both that the support and reject the House's special committee report to remain calm and maintain a democratic conduct towards the whole affair.
They also urged the political elites to be mindful of their conduct as it could permeate and aggravate the situation in the grassroots level. (ylt/jun)