Nazar walks out of court

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Aceh Referendum Information Centre (SIRA) Muhammad Nazar refused to attend his sedition trial here on Wednesday, saying that "the court has failed to present adequate government representation in court".

Nazar had to be picked up by a court official from the Banda Aceh Penitentiary, some 100 meters away from the court house.

"The judges are free to impose any sanctions they want on me. But, I'm not going to attend the trial as I've said before. I want President Abdurrahman Wahid to be called as a witness," he told the session.

Nazar left the courtroom shortly after stating his objection and stayed outside until the session was completed.

Presiding judge Farida Hanoem who led the panel of judges, however, continued the trial to hear three witnesses' testimonies namely Natanil, a staff at local TVRI state television station, M. Zahirsyah, an official at the Banda Aceh administration and Nyak Umar Syarif, also an official at Aceh's office of Social and Political Affairs.

Judge Farida closed the hearing in the afternoon and adjourned the trial until next Tuesday to hear the prosecutors' indictment.(edt/50)