Green activist appeals over 'unfair' verdict<\/p>\n
Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
Aceh environmental activist Bestari Raden, who has been found
\nguilty of subverting national security and public order, has
\nvowed to challenge the court's verdict.<\/p>\n
One of Bestari's lawyers, Nurul Ikhsan, said on Tuesday his
\nclient, who was sentenced to two years and six months in jail,
\nhad pleaded not guilty, and would keep seeking justice.<\/p>\n
\"We are going to use every possible legal means to challenge
\nthe verdict, which is unfair. Bestari is only a rights and
\nenvironmental campaigner,\" Nurul said.<\/p>\n
Under Indonesian law, a verdict can be appealed up to Supreme
\nCourt level. If that fails, the defendant can ask for a review of
\nthe case and seek presidential clemency.<\/p>\n
The South Aceh District Court found Bestari, 45, guilty for
\nhis involvement with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). The martial
\nlaw administration arrested him in March on the accusation that
\nhe served as a GAM leader for the Tapak Tuan area in 2000. He has
\nbeen detained since then.<\/p>\n
GAM has refuted the allegation, saying Bestari was not a
\nmember of the movement.<\/p>\n
Another lawyer representing Bestari, Bambang Antariksa, said
\nthe panel of judges had ignored facts presented during the trial,
\nthat showed his client was merely protesting against the
\ncontroversial Ladia Galaska Highway project, which would cut
\nthrough protected forest in Aceh and North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Bambang said prosecutors had presented witnesses who did not
\nsee Bestari commit the alleged crime themselves, but heard about
\nit from other people.<\/p>\n
\"The verdict is far from just,\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
Bestari has appointed lawyers from Aceh's Advocacy Team for
\nCivil Society.<\/p>\n
Bambang said his client was a civil servant, who had been
\ncommitted to conservation efforts, human rights advocacy and the
\nprotection of local culture between 1999 and 2003.<\/p>\n
\"The legal process against our client is politically motivated
\n-- his past activities had nothing to do with rebellion,\" Bambang
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In its verdict, the South Aceh District Court convicted
\nBestari under article 160 of the Criminal Code on provoking
\npeople to commit treason, which carries a maximum jail sentence
\nof six years. Prosecutors had demanded five years in prison for
\nBestari.<\/p>\n
The panel of judges said Bestari took part in a raid conducted
\nby GAM rebels on Oct. 8, 2002, in Lhok Kruet and Lamno villages
\nin West Aceh regency.<\/p>\n
The defendant was also convicted of involvement in an arson
\nattack in 1999 on the base camp of a local timber company PT
\nMedan Remaja Timber (MRT), which held the concession to exploit
\nforest areas in Kubang Gajah village in South Aceh.<\/p>\n
Bestari was arrested by local police for organizing a rally
\nagainst PT MRT on allegations that the timber company had
\nplundered protected forest. He was released after a round of
\ninterrogations, during which, he claims, he was tortured.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/green-activist-appeals-over-unfair-verdict-1447893297",
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