Gus Dur set to give testimony in Jayapura court

R.K. Nugroho The Jakarta Post Jayapura

Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid is scheduled to appear at the Jayapura District Court on Oct. 22, 2001, to give testimony on behalf of several executives of the Papuan Council Presidium (PDP) who have been charged with subversion.

A team of lawyers who accompanied the defendants in the subversion case, said they had gained confirmation from the former president that the latter would testify in court.

"We have met with Gus Dur at his residence in Jakarta and he has confirmed his readiness to testify. Gus Dur will arrive in the city on Oct. 22 from Bangkok, where he is scheduled to deliver a speech during a seminar on international terrorism," Latifah Anom Siregar, coordinator of the lawyers team, said upon arrival here from Jakarta over the weekend.

Gus Dur is to give testimony in connection with his Rp 1 billion contribution for the Dec. 1, 2000 Papuan People's Congress in the city.

Aside from Gus Dur, Bambang Wijoyanto, director of the Foundation of Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI) and former Irian Jaya deputy governor Djopari, will also appear as witnesses in the court session. Bambang is to testify as an expert witness while Djopari is to testify to the court in relation to his role of granting permission for the congress to be held.

Theys Hiu Eluay, PDP chairman, Thaha Al Hamid, PDP secretary- general, Don Al Flassy, chairman of the Independent Youth Organization, Rev. Herman Awom and John Mambor, a PDP member, are facing life imprisonment for their alleged involvement in the movement to incite the Papuan people to fight for the province's independence.

The congress had sparked clashes between PDP supporters and local riot police leaving scores of police personnel and civilians injured. At least six people were killed in a bloody clash between proindependence Papuans and security personnel in Merauke a day after the congress.

The defendants appreciated Gus Dur's willingness to provide testimony to the court.

"For the Papuan people, Gus Dur is not only a statesman but also an intellectual who has a special place in the hearts of the Papuan people," Thaha Al Hamid, PDI secretary-general, said.