Critics blast govt's stance on freedom<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A number of vocal government critics attacked
\nthe government's stance on freedom of speech yesterday as they
\ntook turns testifying in the trial of 21 students charged with
\ndefaming President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
\"Their protests were obviously responses to unsolved
\nproblems,\" Abdurrahman Wahid, chairman of the Forum for
\nDemocracy, said referring to the students' demonstration last
\nDecember, which resulted in their arrests.<\/p>\n
Other critics to take the witness stand during yesterday's
\ncourt session, including theologian Franz Magnis-Suseno and
\nformer Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin, also defended the students.<\/p>\n
Two legislators, who were also the targets of the students'
\nprotest, testified for the students saying they were not offended
\nby the slogans and shouts attacking them and saw them as
\nconstructive criticism.<\/p>\n
The students are being accused of defaming the head of state,
\nan offense punishable by a maximum six years' imprisonment, in
\nconnection with their demonstration at the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR) last December. Police said their shouts and
\nposters were intended to discredit President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman told the Central Jakarta District Court that
\nprotests could serve as an effective means to channel the will of
\nthe people when other conventional means have failed.<\/p>\n
The constitution grants people the freedom of expression and
\nthe students' action is covered by this, he added.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, who is also chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU),
\nIndonesia's largest Moslem organization, testified that the
\nstudents had obvious reasons to back up their action, which was
\ndemanding the House to take the initiative to press the
\ngovernment for better democratic life in the country.<\/p>\n
\"It is natural if people here ask whether democracy has been
\nfully implemented, because even in countries where democracy is
\nwell maintained people still ask these kinds of questions,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He also said that the people should thank the students for
\nhaving the guts to stage the demonstration. \"If nobody wants to
\nexpress their point of view, people will have more and more
\napathy in viewing the situation in Indonesia.\"<\/p>\n
Suseno, an expert in political philosophy, testified that the
\nuse of strong words was often necessary to convey a message or to
\nattract attention to one's cause.<\/p>\n
Only criticism<\/p>\n
He felt that the posters, banners and words chanted by the
\nstudents during the protest had nothing to do with defamation
\nbecause they there were only criticisms prodding the House to
\nbecome more critical towards the problems in society.<\/p>\n
\"Criticism is criticism. It should be treated the way it is,\"
\nhe said, adding that criticism is an important element in
\ndemocracy.<\/p>\n
The 21 students were arrested on Dec. 14 when they staged the
\ndemonstration at the House compound demanding that the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) hold an emergency session to bring
\nSoeharto to account for a number of clashes between the military
\nand the civilians during 1993.<\/p>\n
The 21 students have been divided into three groups of four,
\nsix and eleven based on their perceived level of guilt.<\/p>\n
The trials yesterday also heard two legislators defending the
\nstudents' action.<\/p>\n
Sri Bintang Pamungkas of the United Development Party (PPP)
\nand Sabam Sirait of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) told
\nthe court that the student demonstration were within their
\nconstitutional rights.<\/p>\n
\"It's natural that the students staged the protest. It's true
\nthat DPR has not fulfilled its duty effectively,\" said Bintang.<\/p>\n
\"The arrest was not constitutional!\" he added.<\/p>\n
Bintang said he agreed with the students' demands for an
\nextraordinary MPR session. \"There have been many violations,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Ali Sadikin recalled in his testimony that he was often the
\ntarget of sharp criticisms during his tenure as Jakarta governor,
\nincluding when he decided to legalize casinos in the Indonesian
\ncapital to raise fund for development.<\/p>\n
\"Public criticism is natural,\" he said. (par)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/critics-blast-govts-stance-on-freedom-1447898607", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }