More Megawati supporters go on trial
JAKARTA (JP): Another 60 supporters of Megawati Soekarnoputri, the ousted chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), appeared in court yesterday charged with assault in the July 27 riots.
This second wave of trials came amid growing demands, even from the National Commission on Human Rights, that the authorities also prosecute supporters of officially-recognized PDI chairman Soerjadi for their role in the riots.
Some of the defendants, or their lawyers, told the hearings yesterday it was Soerjadi's supporters who started the riots when they took over the PDI headquarters.
Henry Yosodiningrat, a lawyer representing a group of the defendants, told the court the charges were totally unfounded and therefore should be dismissed.
"How could the defendants, who were attacked, now be considered the attackers?" Henry asked.
The National Commission on Human Rights published a report on Saturday on its investigation of the July 27 riots. The report stated that five people were killed and 23 went missing.
The commission's findings, which differ from the government's, call on the authorities to prosecute about 200 of Soerjadi's supporters, whom it blames for starting the violence. The commission also blamed security forces personnel for starting the riots.
The 60 defendants were tried in five separate hearings yesterday: Three groups of 12 people, one group of 11 and one group of 13.
Sixty-four other people, all supporters of Megawati, were tried last Wednesday.
All 124 defendants were charged, separately or jointly, with assault causing bodily harm and damage to property under Article 170 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment. They were also charged with disobeying police orders to disperse, in violation of Article 218, which is punishable by up to 18 weeks in jail.
The prosecutors said the defendants behavior injured four people, including two police officers.
The defendants were arrested after the takeover of the PDI headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro in Central Jakarta on July 27. They have been in jail since.
The battle for the headquarters pitted Megawati supporters, who were occupying the headquarters, against those supporting Soerjadi.
Two defendants -- Raya Tampubolon, a 24-year-old student, and Firzen Saleh, a 30-year-old salesman -- told the court separately that they were not in the PDI office at the time of the takeover, yet they were arrested along with the other supporters of Megawati.
"I was out buying teh botol (bottled tea)," Firzen said.
Megawati followed yesterday's hearings, as she did last Wednesday, to support the defendants. She arrived to a chorus of "Long live Mega" from around 200 people who packed the court building.
Senior members of her executive board also attended, including Mangara Siahaan, Tarto Sudiro, Sumiati Sukarno, Roy D.B. Janis and well-known soothsayer Permadi Satrio Wiwoho.
Around 200 police officers armed with rattan sticks and shields and 100 marines guarded the court. There were no incidents.
The hearings were adjourned until Monday. (16)