Ja'far on trial for fiery speech

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