Soeharto wants to see all rioters brought to court
Soeharto wants to see all rioters brought to court
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto ordered Attorney General
Siggih yesterday to ensure that anyone who broke the law in the
lead-up to or during the July 27 riots in Jakarta is promptly
arraigned.
He also approved the continued questioning of activists
suspected of inciting the unrest.
"The President wants to see those whose actions had legal
repercussions take responsibility for them in court," Singgih
told journalists after meeting with the head of state.
Singgih met with Soeharto at Merdeka Palace to brief him on
the progress of his office's investigation into the riots,
particularly the questioning of the Democratic People's Party
(PRD).
The attorney general revealed that of the 124 people arrested
in the aftermath of the riots, six have been released from
detention but required to report regularly to his office.
The riots erupted after supporters of the Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI) rebel chief, Soerjadi, forcibly stormed
the party headquarters controlled by the democratically-elected
leader, Megawati Soekarnoputri.
The government has blamed the tiny PRD for inciting the riots.
In Jakarta, nine PRD activists, including its chief Budiman
Sudjatmiko, have been detained. Also held on subversion charges
is labor activist Mochtar Pakpahan.
Several notable figures have been called for questioning by
the attorney general and the police, including Megawati,
journalist Goenawan Mohamad and government critic Ali Sadikin.
Singgih said his office might summon Abdurrahman Wahid, the
well-known chief of the 30-million-member Nahdlatul Ulama, who
the authorities say was a recipient of a PRD democracy award.
"Currently he hasn't yet been summoned. We'll have to see and
it depends on how things develop," he said.
Singgih would not say how many times a witness could be
summoned for questioning. "It can be five times or 10 times," he
said.
He warned that depending on the outcome of the investigation,
there is also a possibility that the witnesses may become
suspects.
"They could become suspects. It all depends on the results of
the investigation," he remarked.
Singgih confirmed that members of yet another pressure group,
the Indonesian People's Council (Majelis Rakyat Indonesia, or
Mari), would be questioned.
"Yes, they will be investigated. About 30 of them," he said.
Mari was formed early in July by labor activists and human
rights campaigners to force the government to lower prices,
uproot corruption and overhaul the political system.
Singgih reiterated that if evidence points in their direction
they could also become suspects. (mds)
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