Ja'far on trial for fiery speech

JAKARTA: After a two-week delay, the East Jakarta District Court began on Thursday the trial of Laskar Jihad leader Ja'far Umar Thalib, who is charged with sowing hatred against the government of President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Prosecutor Slamat Rijanto told the court that Ja'far insulted the government during his speech before 2,500 Muslims gathered at the Al-Fatah Mosque in Ambon on April 24.

The prosecutor did not charge the Muslim figure with instigating violence in Soya village, where a clash broke out a few days after the speech, as police officers had accused.

In response, one of Ja'far's lawyers, Mahendradatta, asked the panel of judges to acquit his client, saying the charges were obscure and incomplete. The lawyer said the trial was politically motivated.

The trial, presided over by Mansur Nasution, was adjourned until Aug. 29 to give prosecutors time to prepare their response to the defense lawyers' objection. -- Antara