Eurico's court hearing comes under spotlight
Eurico's court hearing comes under spotlight
JAKARTA (JP): Portuguese Ambassador Ana Martins Gomez
questioned on Tuesday the security and objectivity of the North
Jakarta District Court during hearings on pro-integration leader
Eurico Guterres.
The ambassador expressed her concerns because there were
"unruly" situations in the courtroom caused by the defendant's
supporters.
"Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra has
clarified the situation... I'm sure that the justice proceedings
(objectivity) must be done and seemed to be done," she told an
afternoon press briefing following an hour-long meeting with
Yusril at his office.
Yusril said that the ambassador's visit was connected with
Portugal's mission to prepare an annual report for the European
Union, including the circumstances of Eurico's trial, which was
shifted from a lower court in East Nusa Tenggara where the
alleged crimes took place to Jakarta due to security concerns.
"She wanted to know why Indonesia allows supporters of Eurico
to swarm the courtroom waving banners and flags and I explained
to her that here in Jakarta Eurico is an executive of a chapter
of a popular party, Banteng Muda (Young Bulls).
"I also assured her of the judges objectivity in handling the
case and that the district court until now has not complained
about the rowdy supporters and that the situation there is still
under control," Yusril told journalists.
Eurico is charged with illegal possession of weapons and
attacking officials during the collection of his followers'
weapons from a local police office.
Yusril advised that he also informed the ambassador that
Indonesia would establish eight human rights tribunals in five
Jakarta district courts -- in Medan, North Sumatra; Surabaya,
East Java and Makassar, South Sulawesi.
He said that the Portuguese government also sought
clarification of the disbursement of pension funds for former
Indonesian officials and military personnel who had changed their
nationality to East Timorese.
"We said that we will pay but we have to wait for the law on
citizenship between Indonesia and East Timor to be endorsed. The
law was yet to be drafted since East Timor has not obtained its'
formal independence," he added. (bby)