Court decision upsets Makassar teachers

Court decision upsets Makassar teachers

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): Hundreds of elementary school
teachers were outraged on Wednesday when a panel of judges in the
Makassar District Court adjourned the trial of a student's parent
who had beaten a fellow teacher.

The teachers, from some 400 elementary schools in Makassar,
the capital of South Sulawesi, became even angrier when they
learned that the defendant, Syafril Muis Hamzah, was not
detained.

The trial was adjourned until Saturday as the prosecutor
failed to present the witnesses. The adjournment was the second
since the trial began earlier this month.

Shortly after the presiding judge, Muzzakir, announced that
the trial was adjourned, the teachers tried to grab the
defendant. They also blocked the courtroom entrance to prevent
the defendant and his family from leaving.

The teachers also attacked security personnel who tried to
disperse them. Outside the courtroom, police officers fired
warning shots to stop the teachers from throwing stones and drink
bottles into the courtroom.

The situation was gradually brought under control when the
senior teachers and the victim's lawyer, Syaifuddin Suding,
talked to the angry teachers, advising them to calm down.

"They are emotional, but they are like parents to us, so it is
not necessary for the police to fire warning shots to stop them,"
Syaifuddin said.

The defendant is being tried for assaulting Sahari, a teacher
of the state-run Cendrawasih elementary school.

The incident stemmed from a minor argument between two
students of the school, namely Nabila and her classmate Dewi Ayu
Fianti, in March. Their teacher, Alri Djaria, intervened and
managed to settle the quarrel.

But the following day, Nabila's father, Syafril, came to the
school to air his dissatisfaction and even threatened Alri.

Syafril and wife, Rosdina, came to the school again the next
day and were received by Sahari. Alri apparently was absent
because he was afraid of Syafril's earlier threats.

Syafril and Sahari soon became involved in a heated argument.
Syafril, helped by his wife, then hit Sahari.

Sahari had to be rushed to a nearby hospital.

On Wednesday, the teachers threatened to boycott the
nationwide final examinations if the case was not handled
properly soon. They suspect the judges were bribed by the
defendant, who is a legal consultant.

The suspicion, however, was immediately dismissed by Muzzakir.
"We had no intention of adjourning the trial. We just did what
the prosecutors requested." (27/emf)