Court starts hearing on 'death-wish' party hacks

M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Central Jakarta District Court began on Tuesday the first trials of dozens of people who broke traffic laws while following the campaign trail.

The court bailiffs recorded that of the 1,144 traffic offenses to be heard on Tuesday, 170 cases were for numerous violations committed by political party supporters since the first day of campaigning on March 11.

The offenses ranged from not wearing crash helmets, driving in the wrong lane to carrying too many passengers on motorbikes or in cars.

Crowding the courtroom, hot and bothered offenders took turns to sit at the defendant's bench, hand in their tickets and pay a fine of Rp 20,000 (US$2.30) to Rp 50,000 as decided by the sole judge, Aman Barrus.

On the first day of campaigning alone, the Jakarta Police ticketed 960 offenders taking part in a joint parade across the city.

The police's tough action against offending party supporters is unprecedented as, in previous elections, party convoys were allowed to take over roads.

However, most of the defendants on trial for campaign-related traffic violations claimed they were treated unfairly.

Aside from the fact that they were not given a chance to defend themselves, some turned up at court only to be told their cases could not be heard because the police had yet to file the paperwork on their violations.

Robinson Siagian, a Democratic Party supporter ticketed for not wearing a helmet during the March 11 street parade, said the police had acted unfairly in ticketing people.

"Many supporters of other political parties in the campaign were without helmets, but the police only picked on me. Maybe it was because I had a flat tire so I could not escape them," he told The Jakarta Post.

He said such police action would not deter party supporters from participating in what he called a "festival of democracy".

Robinson went home grinning after the judge ordered him to pay a Rp 16,000 fine. "I will still take part in campaigns, but next time I'll wear my helmet."

Another defendant, M. Chaerul, a supporter of the Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra-led Crescent Star Party (PBB), said the police had acted unprofessionally.

"I and my son were riding on two different motorbikes for PBB on the first day of campaigning and we had a police escort. However, two policemen appeared out of the blue and gave us tickets right when we were about to enter Jl. MH Thamrin," he told the Post, referring to the thoroughfare along which all political parties paraded on the first day of campaigning.

The father and son complained that the police had handed the paperwork for Chaerul's violation to the South Jakarta District Court, while his son's was filed with the Central Jakarta District Court.

"How absurd, we were caught in Central Jakarta, but I have to stand trial in South Jakarta," he said in dismay, while waiting for his son's trial.

Chaerul said he would rush to his own trial held on the same day.