Bintang, Xanana banned to testify

Bintang, Xanana banned to testify

JAKARTA (JP): Jailed politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas and East
Timorese rebel leader Xanana Gusmao were forbidden to testify
yesterday at a youth activist's trial at the South Jakarta
District Court.

Wilson bin Nurtias, a Democratic People's Party (PRD) activist
charged with subversion, told the court that Bintang and Xanana
were ready to appear when the ban came into force.

"Bintang and Xanana were ready when suddenly Cipinang prison
officials stopped them, showing them a letter from state
prosecutor Dedi Pridasa," Wilson said.

The letter addressed to the court stated that the two
witnesses were irrelevant to the offense that the defendant had
committed.

It was the second time that Bintang and Xanana had been
forbidden to testify. On Monday, the two were not allowed to
testify at the trial of another PRD activist, I Gusti Anom
Astika, on the grounds that there were was no letter of consent
from the Ministry of Justice.

Xanana had led the East Timor independence guerrilla movement.
He was captured in November 1992 and is serving a 20-year jail
term for insurrection.

Bintang is serving a 34-month prison sentence for insulting
President Soeharto in speeches in Germany. (05)