Treason Suspects Planned to Hijack Dec. 2 Rally to Overthrow Gov't: Top Cop
Jakarta. National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said the people arrested for treason last week were planning to hijack the peaceful prayer rally in Jakarta on Friday (02/12) to overthrow the government.
Former military generals Adityawarman and Kivlan Zein, theater director and activist Ratna Sarumpaet, former President Suharto loyalist Virza Husein, politician Eko Suryo, and activists Alvinindra Al Fariz and Rachmawati Sukarnoputri – the youngest daughter of former President Sukarno – have been named suspects for planning to commit treason.
Police uncovered plans by the group to orchestrate an occupation by protestors of the National Parliament complex in Senayan, South Jakarta, to further their political agenda, which involves the restoration of the 1945 Constitution to its original version. This would have resulted in drastic changes to the entire statute and legal landscape of the country.
Last week's rally, organized by a group calling itself the National Movement to Guard the Fatwas of the Indonesian Ulema Council (GNPF-MUI), saw more than 400,000 people participating in a mass Friday prayer at the National Monument (Monas) complex in Central Jakarta to demand the jailing of Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, who is accused of blasphemy.
"They [the treason suspects] wanted to hijack the GNPF-MUI protesters and herd them to the parliamentary complex to occupy it and force a special plenary meeting. They wanted to impeach the legitimate government," Tito said during a hearing by House of Representatives Commission III, which oversees legal affairs and security.
He added that the suspects' plan to impeach the government was unconstitutional.
"We approve of protest and meetings with lawmakers. Those are fine. But occupying the parliamentary complex for a certain agenda is unconstitutional," Tito said.
Police have also charged three other persons – Jamran, Rizal Kobar and Sri Bintang Pamungkas – for having violated Article 28 of the Information and Electronic Transaction Law on harassment.
Rock star Ahmad Dhani was also named a suspect under Article 207 of the Criminal Code for insulting state symbols.
Tito said the 11 suspects were detained for questioning on Friday to prevent controversy and a possible smear campaign against the police in social media.
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