Ja'far trial adjourned till Aug. 15<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: The East Jakarta District Court postponed on Thursday
\nthe trial of Ja'far Umar Thalib, leader of hard-line group Laskar
\nJihad, out of fears for Ja'far's health and for security reasons
\ndue to the Annual Session of the MPR.<\/p>\n
Ja'far was scheduled to go on trial for inciting violence in
\nAmbon, Maluku, which has been the scene of sectarian conflict for
\nsome years now.<\/p>\n
\"You look pale. The court does not try defendants who are ill.
\nAre you in good health?\" asked presiding Judge Mansyur Nasution.<\/p>\n
Wearing white robes and a turban, Ja'far answered that
\n\"physically I am healthy but my mind is very depressed by the
\nfact that I am been treated unfairly.\"<\/p>\n
Judge Mansyur adjourned the hearing until Aug. 15 because the
\npanel of judges considered that physically and psychologically
\nJa'far was unfit to face trial.<\/p>\n
The judges also said that the security situation was not
\nfavorable for the trial to go ahead due to the Annual Session.<\/p>\n
More than 100 police officers guarded the court building
\ntightly. They screened visitors, mostly Ja'far supporters, with
\nmetal detectors.<\/p>\n
Lawyer Wirawan Adnan said Ja'far would be charged with
\ninciting violence, insulting President Megawati Soekarnoputri and
\ninciting hatred against the government. --JP<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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