Susilo to be questioned: Djasrie
JAKARTA (JP): Military police chief Maj. Gen. Djasrie Marin said on Thursday that newly appointed Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Lt. Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would be questioned in connection with the violent attack on the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) headquarters on July 27, 1996.
Djasrie, who is also deputy chairman of the joint National Police-military police investigation team into the incident, said the minister would be questioned as a witness at military police headquarters.
"We have secured the President's approval to question the minister. And, indeed, all Indonesian citizens can be questioned to make the case clearer," he said, as quoted by Antara.
He said the President also approved the proposal to question former Jakarta Military commander and current Jakarta governor Lt. Gen. (ret) Sutiyoso, and former Armed Forces (ABRI) head of sociopolitical affairs Lt. Gen. (ret) Syarwan Hamid.
The two-star general, however, declined to disclose when Susilo, who was the city military command's chief of staff when the incident occurred, would be questioned.
Military and police personnel allegedly involved in the 1996 incident are being questioned by the joint team, led by national police chief of Detectives Insp. Gen. Chairuddin Ismail. Civilian suspects are being questioned by police investigators.
The joint investigation team has questioned several high- ranking military and police officers, including Maj. Gen. Zacky Anwar Makarim, Maj. Gen. Sudi Silalahi, Maj. Gen. (ret) Suwarno Adiwidjoyo and Brig. Gen. Basyir Barmawi.
Djasrie has yet to name any military or police officers as suspects in the case.
The July 1996 raid involved supporters of a PDI splinter faction, led by Soerjadi and backed by elements in ABRI, taking over the party's headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro in Central Jakarta, ousting those loyal to the former PDI leader and now vice president, Megawati Soekarnoputri.
The raid triggered mast unrest in the city, which left five dead. Up to 23 others are reportedly still missing.(asa)