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)