Muchtar Pakpahan's trial resumes<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The subversion trial against labor leader
\nMuchtar Pakpahan resumed yesterday after a six month adjournment
\ndue to the defendant's deteriorating health.<\/p>\n
The South Jakarta District Court heard testimony from a
\nDepartment of Finance official, Ma'mun Gulmay, who was brought to
\nthe stand by prosecutors as an expert witness to confirm whether
\na civil servant's salary was adequate.<\/p>\n
Pakpahan, leader of the unrecognized Indonesian Prosperous
\nLabor Union (SBSI), was charged with subversion in December last
\nyear.<\/p>\n
The prosecution claims Pakpahan spread hatred against the
\ngovernment in a book he wrote and other statements made between
\nAugust 1995 and July 27, 1996.<\/p>\n
In one of his statements made through SBSI, he asserted that a
\ndecent daily wage for a worker should be at least Rp 7,000
\n(US$2.4) while civil servants and Armed Forces personnel should
\nreceive at least Rp 600,000 a month.<\/p>\n
Ma'mun claimed yesterday in his testimony that the Rp 78,000
\n($27) minimum salary of civil servants and Armed Forces members
\nwas sufficient.<\/p>\n
Pakpahan and his lawyers repeatedly asked Ma'mun to confirm
\nwhether it was enough.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's trial was time-consuming as Pakpahan and his
\nlawyers were not allowed to question the witness. Questions were
\ndirected to presiding judge Djazuli P. Sudibyo who then relayed
\nthe question.<\/p>\n
On several occasions Djazuli asked the defendant to repeat the
\nquestion or flatly rejected it saying it was irrelevant.<\/p>\n
This often resulted in heated debate between Judge Djazuli and
\nPakpahan's four lawyers.<\/p>\n
After the hearing, one of the defendant's lawyers, Luthfie
\nHakim, said he was very upset with the trial procedure. (05)<\/p>",
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