More Megawati supporters go on trial

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)