Arrested playwright, activists sue police<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights
\nAssociation (PBHI) has filed a pre-trial lawsuit against the
\npolice over the arrest of the playwright Ratna Sarumpaet and
\neight other activists last Tuesday.<\/p>\n
PBHI's executive director Hendardi told journalists here
\nyesterday that the suit was filed against the North Jakarta
\nPolice Chief and the City Police Chief for allegedly detaining
\nthe nine for a period in excess of the 24 hours permitted without
\nan arrest warrant last week.<\/p>\n
"We filed the pre-trial suits at the North Jakarta District
\nCourt," Hendardi said.<\/p>\n
The nine were arrested during a Tuesday morning raid on a
\nseaside bungalow in the Ancol recreational park in North Jakarta
\nwhere they had planned to hold a "People's Summit" involving
\ngovernment critics and pro-democracy leaders.<\/p>\n
Hendardi claimed that the necessary arrest warrant was issued
\nmore than eight hours after the 24 hour legal deadline had
\nexpired.<\/p>\n
According to Hendardi, Sarumpaet has also been accused of
\ninsulting and spreading hatred and enmity against the government,
\na charge that can carry up to seven years in jail.<\/p>\n
The other eight detainees, who include Ratna's daughter Fathom
\nSaulina and PBHI lawyer Alexius Surya Tjahaya Tomu, each face up
\nto one year in jail.<\/p>\n
Hendardi asserted his firm objection to the charges, saying
\nthat the 1963 law restricting political activities on which the
\ncharges are based was a product of the Old Order government which
\nproceeded Soeharto's New Order.<\/p>\n
"It is ironic that ... the New Order is keen to use legal
\nproducts of the Old Order," he remarked.<\/p>\n
"The government must revoke the law and replace it with one
\nthat guarantees freedom of expression."<\/p>\n
Security authorities banned all mass gatherings and street
\nrallies one week before and after the 11-day General Session of
\nthe People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) that returned Soeharto
\nto his seventh consecutive term in office on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Ratna is an activist in Siaga, a pro-democracy group which
\nsupported the two prominent figures who nominated themselves as
\npresidential candidates.<\/p>\n
However, both candidates, Amien Rais, the outspoken leader of
\nthe 28-million strong Muhammadiyah Moslem organization and
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri, the ousted leader of the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party, failed to gain any support from the Assembly.
\n(byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/arrested-playwright-activists-sue-police-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}