Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung, Jakarta – The National Police and the office of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono insist presidential candidate Rizal Ramli was named a suspect in a protest case in accordance with the law, dismissing suggestions it was a political move.

National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said Friday in Bandung that investigators had ample legal evidence to name Rizal as a suspect for masterminding an antigovernment demonstration in June last year that resulted in riots and clashes with the police.

"The investigation process was very clear. After interrogating Ferry Juliantono as a suspect in the case, we concluded that there had to be an accomplice. There was no political motive behind the case," he said.

Bambang said Rizal defied a summon Thursday from police to face questioning over any involvement in the riot. "We hope he will respond to our second summoning next week," he said.

National Police director for national security and transnational crimes Brig. Gen. Badrodin Haiti said Rizal's lawyer had informed police his client would not comply with the summon.

"We will prove that he was involved. We hope he will come here next Thursday. If he defies the second summon, we will have see what further action can be taken," he said.

Presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng said in Jakarta that naming Rizal a suspect was a purely legal matter and had nothing to do with the upcoming presidential elections. "What for? Look at the President's rising popularity. It has been throughout his term that Indonesian authorities have really upheld the law," he said.

Rizal, who has been campaigning in Bengkulu since Thursday, has accused Yudhoyono of being behind the arrest of his close aide Ferry and for naming him a suspect.

He has maintained his innocence, saying the accusations were being used as a means to stop him running for the presidency.

Late Friday, around 30 of Rizal's supporters staged a rally in front of his house on Jl. Panglima Polim in Menteng, Central Jakarta, to express their ongoing support for him. "Rizal Ramli has been arrested, SBY-JK (Vice President Jusuf Kalla) are antidemocracy," they chanted.

Rizal also received support from other politicians to challenge his arrest. Fadjroel Rachman, another presidential candidate, said Rizal must fight Yudhoyono's move.

"Rizal is a victim of Yudhoyono's antidemocratic policies. This is a New-Order type attempt to silence political enemies. I support Rizal's fight against such antidemocratic attitudes," he said.