Ten people questioned over attack on councilor

JAKARTA (JP): The authorities have questioned more than 10 people, including a government official, for possible involvement in the recent attack on a councilor in Surabaya.

The Agency for the Coordination of Support for the Development of National Stability asked the Surabaya police headquarters to investigate the vandalism of Andy Soedirman's home last week, according to the Bhaskara Jaya military commander, Col. Syamsul Ma'arif.

"We'll investigate the case thoroughly. Trust us, the police are committed to solving it," East Java police chief Maj. Gen. Roesmanhadi was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying yesterday.

Some 200 people vandalized Andy's home on Friday in reaction to his announcement that he would sue Surabaya Mayor Soenarto Soemoprawiro for land appropriation discrepancies.

Andy charged that Soenarto appropriated a plot on Jl. Sungkono without the consent of the city legislative council.

The attackers called themselves "the defenders of the mayor", and were reportedly led by nine people, including a realtor, a village chief, and head of the mayoralty's office for social and political affairs, Lt. Col. Budhiyanto.

Budhiyanto, who signed the list of "protesters of Surabaya" at the time of the attack, was questioned on the order of commander of the Brawijaya Military Command, Maj. Gen. Imam Utomo. The daily Republika reported yesterday that Budhiyanto denied masterminding the attack. He said he went to the spot only to carry out his duty.

In related developments, chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council (ret.) Sudomo called on the public yesterday not to be provoked by "news of cases such as the vandalism against Andy's home". Instead, people should first ask for more information from the authorities, he said.

"Ask people who know. If you find pamphlets, go ask the military or police. Don't let them (circulars) make conditions worse than they already are," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Still in relation to Mayor Soenarto, 10 local journalists who took offense at his recent threats have decided to drop their libel suit against him.

The journalists withdrew their Oct. 6, lawsuit through lawyer Trimoelja D. Soejadi after the mayor publicly apologized for his remarks.

Soenarto last month threatened journalists covering the activities of East Java Governor Basofi Sudirman that he would hound them out of the city unless they stopped making reports which showed his superior in a negative light. (swe)