Two soldiers testify against Aberson<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two military witnesses testified yesterday in
\nthe Central Jakarta District Court against Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI) legislator Aberson Marle Sihaloho by recalling the
\ndefamatory statements he allegedly made against President
\nSoeharto.<\/p>\n
The witnesses, First Corporal Suratno, aged 37, and Sergeant
\nSunarto, 24, both of the Jakarta regional military command, said
\nthey recalled Aberson making a slanderous speech.<\/p>\n
Suratno said that on July 13, 1996, he was ordered by his
\nsuperior, whom he did not name, to monitor the free-speech forum
\nheld at the disputed PDI headquarters in Central Jakarta. He was
\nequipped with a camcorder and tape recorder.<\/p>\n
Aberson was the third speaker at the forum but Sunarto failed
\nto recollect the two earlier speakers. Aberson allegedly said:
\n\"Our freedom has been stolen and we are being colonized again
\nunder Soeharto's 30-year leadership.\"<\/p>\n
He also allegedly said: \"The Army is behind the generals'
\ndeaths in the 1965 communist coup and the demise of DI\/TII.\"<\/p>\n
DI\/TII, the Darul Islam\/Tentara Islam Indonesia, was a
\nmovement seeking to establish an independent Indonesian Islamic
\nState in 1949, led by army deserter S.M. Kartosuwiryo. The then
\npresident Sukarno crushed the movement in 1962.<\/p>\n
Aberson also allegedly said: \"Legislators no longer represent
\nthe people's interests but they serve the conglomerates.\"<\/p>\n
Aberson said yesterday that his statements had been taken by
\nthe witnesses out of context but he did not elaborate.<\/p>\n
Presided over by Judge Soehardjo, the trial is scheduled to
\nresume next Tuesday to question two other officers involved in
\nmonitoring the free-speech forum held by the supporters of ousted
\nPDI chief Megawati Soekarnoputri in protest against her rival,
\ngovernment-backed chairman Soerjadi.<\/p>\n
In a separate session at the same district court, the trial of
\nyouth activist Budiman Sudjatmiko continued yesterday. He was
\nearlier accused of masterminding the July 27 riots that erupted
\nafter the forced takeover of the PDI headquarters by Soerjadi's
\ncamp and the military.<\/p>\n
Budiman, chairman of the unrecognized Democratic People's
\nParty (PRD), appeared in high spirits in court. He wore a slogan
\non his left shirt sleeve that said \"Boycott the elections.\"<\/p>\n
Budiman is being charged under the 1963 Subversion Law for
\nallegedly undermining the state and insulting government
\nofficials through his party's activities. Subversion is a crime
\nwhich carries a maximum penalty of death.<\/p>\n
Judge Syoffinan Sumantri is presiding over the court, the
\nleading prosecutor yesterday was M. Salim while the defense team
\nwas led by Luhut Pangaribuan.<\/p>\n
Two other PRD activists Suroso and Yacobus Eko Kurniawan, both
\naged 24, refused to testify against Budiman, citing article 168
\nof the Criminal Code Procedures which stipulates that witnesses
\ncan withdraw their testimony if charged under the same sentence
\nas the defendant. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/two-soldiers-testify-against-aberson-1447893297",
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