Guards accuse DPR protesters of using profanity<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two House of Representatives (DPR) security
\nguards testified in the Soeharto defamation trial on Saturday
\nthat profanity was used by the defendants at a protest against
\nthe current government.<\/p>\n
The guards however told the Central Jakarta District Court
\nthat they were not sure if the words were intended to attack
\nPresident Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Sunarto also identified Adi Kurniawan, Yeni Rosa Damayanti,
\nHendrik Dikson Sirait and Masduki as having read poems, chanted
\nand unfurled posters, all critical of the government, during the
\nDec. 14 demonstration.<\/p>\n
\"I have no idea of the meaning of the poems, posters and songs
\nthough,\" Sunarto told the panel of judges led by Soetrisno.<\/p>\n
The four are among the 21 currently being tried on charges of
\ndefaming the head of state, an offense punishable by up to six
\nyears in prison. All participate in a House protest that demanded
\na People's Consultative Assembly special session to review
\nPresident Soeharto's responsibility for a series of violent
\nincidents involving the security forces and civilians.<\/p>\n
Sunarto told the court that the students forced their way to
\nthe House without fulfilling the necessary procedures required of
\nguests, leading the defendants to brand him a liar.<\/p>\n
The defense said there were discrepancies between Sunarto's
\ntestimony and the statement he made previously to the police.<\/p>\n
In court, the witness was not sure about the content of the
\npoems but in his police statement he had told them that they
\ninsulted the President, the lawyers pointed out.<\/p>\n
The prosecution continued to paint a picture of a group of
\ndefendants who crossed over the line between healthy criticism
\ninto the territory of a direct personal attack on the President.<\/p>\n
Yeni and Hendrik told the court that the poems they read
\nduring the demonstration were penned by the noted poet W.S.
\nRendra, whose work has been read in public before.<\/p>\n
The other guard, Aca Suharya, was also attacked by the
\ndefendants and their lawyers for contradicting previous
\nstatements made to the court and the police.<\/p>\n
Aca said in the dossier he only remembered a few verses of the
\npoems, but during cross-examinations he recited more verses.<\/p>\n
Both witnesses were also criticized when they said that they
\ndid not see any military personnel in the House's compound during
\nthe demonstration.<\/p>\n
\"I see an obvious effort to conceal the military's involvement
\nin the case,\" Yeni said.<\/p>\n
The 21 defendants have been divided into three groups of four,
\nsix and 11 respectively according to what the prosecutors
\nperceive as their degree of culpability. The hearings of the
\nother two groups were held simultaneously at the same court on
\nSaturday. (par)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/guards-accuse-dpr-protesters-of-using-profanity-1447899208",
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