TNI decree a must for probe into PDI incident
TNI decree a must for probe into PDI incident
JAKARTA (JP): An officer hinted on Tuesday that a joint
National Military Police-National Police investigative team would
have to secure approval from the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief
before it could start an inquiry into the violent attack on the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) headquarters on July 27, 1996.
"The joint investigative team is waiting for a decree to be
issued by the TNI chief this week at the latest," Col. Hendardji,
head of the investigation division at the National Military
Police Headquarters, announced after attending a coordinative
meeting of the investigative team at National Police
Headquarters.
"Immediately after securing the decree, the joint team will
start to question parties allegedly involved in the attack," he
said.
He said a decree signed by the TNI chief was needed because
the investigation would involve interrogators from the military
police headquarters, which is under the supervision of TNI
Headquarters, and would question high-ranking military officers
allegedly involved in the attack.
The joint investigative team, which was established on June
30, comprises interrogators of both the national military police
and the National Police.
Hendardji said the joint team was chaired by National Police
chief of detectives Insp. Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail and his deputy
Maj. Gen. Djasrie Marin, who is also the national military police
chief.
The joint team was established following the completion of a
police probe into the attack on PDI headquarters on Jl.
Diponegoro in Central Jakarta.
"The joint investigation into the incident is based on the
results of initial investigation conducted by the National
Police," he said.
The July 1996 unrest, which left five people dead and 23
others missing, occurred after supporters of then PDI chairman
Soerjadi forcibly took over the party headquarters from loyalists
of ousted PDI leader Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Megawati is now the Vice President and chairwoman of the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), which
was formed after a split within PDI occurred.
The National Police have so far summoned a number of civilians
and several high-ranking military officers, allegedly involved in
the attack.
Among the questioned high-ranking military officers were Lt.
Gen. (ret) Sutiyoso, the incumbent Jakarta governor, who was the
Jakarta Military commander at the time, former TNI chief of
sociopolitical affairs Lt. Gen. (ret) Syarwan Hamid, former Armed
Forces (ABRI) chief Gen. (ret) Feisal Tanjung and former ABRI
chief of general affairs Lt. Gen. (ret) Soeyono.
Soerjadi, PDI's former chairman, has been named a suspect in
the case and was once detained at the National Police
Headquarters detention house.
He was released from detention after his lawyers guaranteed
that he would not flee the country nor tamper with evidence.
(asa)