Court examines PRD's evidence

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta District Court judges trying a lawsuit filed by the Democratic People's Party (PRD) against a number of former top state officials examined on Wednesday the written evidence presented by lawyers of the plaintiff.

The former state officials concerned include former president Soeharto, former home ministry Yogie S. Memet, former Armed Forces chief Gen. (ret) Feisal Tanjung and former Jakarta Military commander Lt. Gen. (ret) Sutiyoso.

The panel of judges also approved the names of several people proposed by the lawyers to testify in the next hearing. They are Wartono, the father of PRD chairman Budiman Sujatmiko; Veronica, who was accused of harboring wanted antigovernment activist Garda Sembiring; Catholic priest Sandiyawan Sumardi; political observer Arbi Sanit and legal expert Loebby Loqman.

A rally staged by some 40 PRD activists outside the courtroom marked the hearing. They urged the court to also try several Golkar Party top executives and former military leaders for masterminding the bloody takeover of the Indonesian Democratic Party's headquarters on July 27, 1996.

The hearing was adjourned until next Wednesday, when witnesses' testimonies will be heard. (01)