TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Metro Police chief Inspector General Muchamad Iriawan said that more people may be arrested over alleged treason. As of now, police have questioned 14 witnesses in relation to the meetings to discuss coup.
“Other suspects are still being questioned and new perpetrators may be identified. Therefore, investigation into the case is underway,” Iriawan said on Tuesday at Jakarta Metro Police building.
Iriawan said that meetings among suspects had been held several times at different locations. Among them are at the house of former president Soekarno’s daughter Rachmawati Soekarnoputri and the so-called Rumah Kedaulatan Rakyat (People’s Sovereignty House). Iriawan said that the attendees of the meeting may be named as suspects.
“Plans were made there [in the meetings]to topple the government,” Iriawan said. Aside from eight individuals named as suspects, Iriawan said that the meetings were attended by several others, such as activist Hatta Taliwang and musician Ahmad Dhani.
“We therefore are investigating the link between him and [coup plans]. One thing is for sure, it leads to it,” Iriawan said. Ahmad Dhani has been named suspect for insulting the Government, not over alleged treason.
Eight individuals who have allegedly planned a coup were activist Sri Bintang Pamungkas, the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party official Eko Suryo Santjojo, retired military official Brigadier General (Ret.) Adityawarman Thaha, former Army's Strategic Reserve commander Kivlan Zen, mass organization Cendana Friends’ Solidarity activist Firza Husein, Gerindra Party official Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, labor activist Alvin Indra Al Fariz and activist Ratna Sarumpaet.
Sri Bintang Pamungkas is also charged under the Information and Electronic Transactions Law (UU ITE). He is still under police custody, while seven others were released early Saturday morning.
EGI ADYATAMA