Sofjan denies link to PRD

JAKARTA (JP): Business tycoon Sofjan Wanandi came out of an hour-long questioning by intelligence officers yesterday saying he is clear of all complicity with the banned Democratic People's Party (PRD).

"I have nothing to do with the PRD members because I do not know them," he told reporters.

Sofjan, chairman of the Gemala Group, was called in for questioning at the office of the Jakarta Internal Security Agency (Bakorstanasda) in Central Jakarta, following reports that his name was found written in documents confiscated at the scene of a bomb explosion at Tanah Tinggi, Central Jakarta.

The suspected bomb makers are alleged PRD sympathizers.

Speaking at the Gemala Group building in Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta after yesterday's questioning, Sofjan said he was merely among those targeted by the PRD.

"I was included on a (PRD) list. But I've never given them any money," said Sofjan who is known as a prominent figure of the 1966 generation.

Sofjan said his explanation was accepted by the authorities. "That's what they told me today," he said.

Sofjan said he was summoned over an e-mail, said to have been found at the site of the bomb explosion, naming himself and his brother Jusuf Wanandi, a director of the independent think tank the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), as financial supporters of the PRD activities.

The homemade device exploded at an apartment in Tanah Tinggi on Jan. 18. No one was killed but police arrested a man whom they alleged to be one of the three bomb makers. The other two are said to be in hiding.

Hendardi, executive director of the Association of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Protection, and Alex Flor of the German-based Watch Indonesia group were also named in the found documents.

It is not clear whether Hendardi and Alex will also be questioned.

But when questioned by reporters, Hendardi also denied any links with PRD. "I strongly deny any connection with the bomb makers. I don't even know them," he said.

Chairman of the city branch of the Agency for the Coordination of Support for National Stability (Bakorstanasda) Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said yesterday Sofjan claimed he was innocent when investigators showed him the PRD document with his name inscribed.

"There was a psychological nuance. Sofjan Wanandi looked nervous when we showed him the document, but he denied it," said Sjafrie, who is also Jakarta Military Commander.

"Sofyan said he did not know the suspect in the bomb blast," Sjafrie said. But he warned "if the team finds more evidence, Sofjan will be brought to police for investigation and later to court for a trial".

Armed Forces chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung claimed there had to be financial backers behind the bomb explosion. "Otherwise, where would they get the money to make the bombs?"

Speaking to reporters after initiating a "Love Rupiah" campaign at the Armed Forces headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, Feisal said no exceptions would be made in the investigation.

"Anybody, whether they be a Batak, Chinese, Acehnese or Javanese, will be investigated if they are suspected of involvement in the bomb explosion," he said. "We don't even care if he's close with the Armed Forces headquarters."

A group of about 50 youths, claiming to be university students, staged a demonstration at the CSIS office in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, demanding Sofjan be brought to court and the center dissolved.

Johanes Kristiadi of the CSIS said it was the first rally to be staged against the non-government organization in the past 22 years.

"But it's okay, because we live in a democratic country which allows people to have different opinions," Kristiadi said.

But he said that Sofjan held no official position at CSIS although he was close to the organization. (09/10/aan/amd/imn)