Akbar's first day on trial

Akbar's first day on trial

From Pelita

I would like to commend Indonesia's judicial institutions -- particularly the Central Jakarta District Court which is trying the case involving Akbar Tandjung, former state secretary minister, the incumbent House speaker, and the general chairman of Golkar party.

Frankly, I watched the court session only from television, but this was enough for me to understand the trial. I am optimistic enough to say that the country's judiciary will work well later on, and that there will be no fabrication.

I respect the resignation of Akbar Tandjung's legal team, Hotma Sitompoel and others, reportedly owing as a matter of principle.

The reality is that they must appear in the same district court at the same time to handle a different case on human rights violations in East Timor.

So they had to make a choice. It meant that the Central Jakarta District Court is not affected by the schedule of the lawyers.

I hope that the good impressions made by the judicial institutions can be maintained in future so that the public's antipathy toward the country's judiciary can be turned into empathy.

DARMA KESUMA

Jakarta