Soerjadi arrested over 1996 case

Soerjadi arrested over 1996 case

JAKARTA (JP): Former Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
chairman Soerjadi was arrested by police on Tuesday following a
marathon questioning over his alleged role in the riots sparked
by a forcible takeover of the party's office in 1996.

The National Police Headquarters issued a warrant for the
arrest of the Supreme Advisory Council member at about 9 p.m.,
after 10 hours of interrogation.

The deputy chief of general crimes, Col. Makbul Padmanegara,
confirmed the arrest. Soerjadi is now in the custody of the
National Police, and joins the party's former secretary-general
Buttu Hutapea and deputy chairman Alex Widya Siregar.

Soerjadi, who has been named a suspect in the incident, was
quoted by his lawyer Parlin Sitorus as telling police detectives
that he hosted a meeting with some officials of the Armed Forces
and Ministry of Home Affairs at a hotel in South Jakarta two days
before the July 27 bloodshed.

Among the attendants of the meeting were the then Armed Forces
chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid and former
director general of Sociopolitical Affairs Soetoyo N.K.

But Parlin played down the importance of the meeting.

"It was aimed at finding a solution to the party's internal
split and discussing measures that may help the party prepare for
the upcoming general election," Parlin said.

The meeting followed a breakaway government-backed congress in
Medan, North Sumatra, earlier in June 1996 which reelected
Soerjadi as the party's chairman. The party had earlier appointed
Megawati Soekarnoputri as the chairwoman.

Parlin said it was common practice among political parties to
report to the military chief, the home affairs minister and the
president about the results of a congress.

The questioning of Soerjadi was enabled following the approval
of President Abdurrahman Wahid. According to Indonesian law,
interrogation of state officials requires the head of state's
permission.

Party supporters who claimed to be loyal to Soerjadi took over
the party's office on Jl. Diponegoro in Central Jakarta, which at
that time was occupied by pro-Megawati activists. Many believed
elements in the former Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) were
reportedly involved in the attack.

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) announced
in September 1996 that five people died, 149 were injured and 23
were still missing during the riots.

Legal attempts were sought by Megawati, but to no avail.

Shortly after police reopened the investigation in February,
13 people were named suspects. (01)