Court examines PRD's evidence

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)