(9 Aug 1996) English/Nat
Indonesia's pro-democracy leader has been questioned by police about the riots that erupted last month, following a raid on her party headquarters.
Megawati Sukarnoputri spent nearly seven hours in police headquarters in Jakarta.
Her lawyer said she denied knowing anything about a fugitive radical accused of inciting the violence.
Megawati Sukarnoputri left her house this morning, surrounded by supporters.
The police demanded she report for questioning, over riots which broke out following a raid on her party headquarters
Before leaving her house south of Jakarta Friday morning, Megawati said she would cooperate with the investigation.
SOUNDBITE:
"Q: May I as how you are feeling?
A: Good.
Q: How important do think today is?
A: Oh, it's very important for my life because this is first time I go to police station.
Q: Will you yourself answer the questions or will your lawyers answer them?
A: No, I myself will be answering the questions.
Q: And how confident are you about today?
A: Aaah, Good Luck."
SUPER CAPTION: Megawati Sukarnoputri, Indonesia's Pro-Democracy Leader
Security around the police station was very tight, a helicopter circled overhead and about 200 officers with sticks and dogs kept reporters 50 meters (yards) from the building.
Police also set up checkpoints around the building to control traffic.
About 50 Megawati supporters were on hand, some wearing ribbons in her party colors of red and white.
Megawati, daughter of Indonesia's founding president Sukarno, refused to be questioned Monday, arguing the police summons wasn't
valid.
She agreed to Friday's questioning after police issued an amended order.
The government blames subversives for violent protests that erupted July 27, after police and soldiers raided the headquarters of the Indonesian Democratic Party, breaking up a sit-in by Megawati
supporters.
Megawati, 49, has denied any link to radicals and rejects claims that subversive agitators infiltrated her movement.
A few hours after her interrogation, Megawati attended a press conference held by her lawyer - she remained silent during the conference
He said the authorities asked her about Budiman Sujatmiko, the 27-year-old leader of a tiny leftist fringe party who is wanted on subversion charges.
But Megawati denied any knowledge of the man.
Many people blamed the protests on public frustration at rising corruption, economic disparities and official attempts to oust Megawati as leader of the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party.
On Monday, she sent lawyers who talked to police for an hour.
Megawati is also pursuing a lawsuit challenging her dismissal as party chief, at a rebel party congress organized by the military in June.
Lawyers filed a police complaint this week, accusing her army-backed rival of igniting the riots by attacking Megawati supporters, who refused to give up the party headquarters.
After her questioning, Megawati evaded the press - leaving via a back door.
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