Gambir evidence conflicts: Defense

JAKARTA (JP): Defense lawyers representing supporters of Megawati Soekarnoputri, the ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), told the Central Jakarta District Court yesterday that prosecution witnesses gave contradicting testimonies at the last hearing.

Five people are charged with disobeying orders to disperse during a demonstration supporting Megawati on June 20.

They are also charged with breaking a police line near the Gambir railway station.

The charges carry a maximum eight-and-a-half-years jail.

The lawyers said all 15 prosecution witnesses gave contradicting testimonies on many details.

The team of lawyers, which calls itself the Public Defender for Indonesian Democracy, said different witnesses gave different descriptions of the demonstrators' car which allegedly broke a police barricade during the rally.

The PDI activists were on their way to the Monas Square where they planned to hold a mass prayer for Megawati who had just been deposed as PDI leader in a government-back congress in Medan.

The congress, which Megawati said violated the party's constitution, appointed Soerjadi as the new PDI chairman.

When the demonstrators arrived near the railway station police tried to herd them in another direction and a fracas broke out between them and the officers.

Arrest

Fifty-seven of the demonstrators were arrested but 52 were later released.

The lawyers said "none of the witnesses for the defendants testified that they saw the defendants involved in any criminal acts."

"These witnesses even testified that the defendants were staging a peaceful rally," they said,

The lawyers said "even the Jakarta Military Commander, Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso, the following day told a PDI delegation that the incident was not provoked by Megawati's supporters."

The hearing will continue on Wednesday. (05)