Court turned into students' protest arena

JAKARTA (JP): More than 50 students turned the Central Jakarta District Court into a stage yesterday as they mocked the legal system during the trials of 21 of their colleagues being charged with defaming President Soeharto.

The students called the trials a farce.

"These trials should be annulled for the sake of the law," one protester said.

The protesters were attending the hearing of six of the 21 students on trial. The six defendants all appeared in black T- shirts with incriptions critical of the government.

The court had originally been scheduled to announce its verdict yesterday, but Judge R.P.A Mangkoeadiningrat opened the hearing briefly to announce that the trial was being adjourned until Wednesday because Presiding Judge Partoso was out of town.

This announcement brought more boos and jeers from the defendants' supporters.

After the trial, the protesters gathered outside the courtroom to read poems and make speeches attacking the government. They dispersed peacefully when police officers asked them to leave the court building.

Court sources said the adjournment of the hearing was also intended to allow all 21 defendants to be sentenced on Wednesday.

The 21 students were arrested in December during a demonstration at the House of Representatives (DPR) while protesting against various violent incidents that have occurred throughout the country over recent years, which they blamed on the government's reactionary security.

The students also demanded that the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) hold an emergency hearing to ask President Soeharto to account for his leadership.

The prosecution said the students' banners and yells insulted the integrity of the head of state, amounting to defamation.

The public prosecutors are demanding sentences of between eight and 18 months' imprisonment for the students. The stiffest sentence has been sought for Yeni Rosa Damayanti and Adi Kurniawan, who were the most outspoken during the demonstration.

The maximum penalty for those accused of defaming the President is six years behind bars.

The students, represented by lawyers from the Legal Aid Foundation, argued that they were exercising their freedom to express their opinions, something which is guaranteed by the Constitution.

In their defense, they presented a number of prominent government critics to argue their case, including Abdurrahman Wahid, Sabam Sirait, Sri Bintang Pamungkas and Ali Sadikin. (par)