NGOs a step closer in suit against Soeharto

NGOs a step closer in suit against Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): Seven non-governmental organizations (NGOs) made
major progress in their suit against President Soeharto over the
use of a forestry fund when the State Administrative Court ruled
their case valid.

The court's chief Benjamin Mangkoedilaga told reporters after
meeting with the plaintiffs' lawyers in a 15-minute closed
session that the suit was valid and that court is determined to
continue the legal process.

"We held the preliminary examination this morning and we
declared that the suit passed the dismissal process,"
Mangkoedilaga said.

He added, however, that the suit needed improvement and asked
the lawyers to submit the NGOs' statutes.

The NGOs are suing the head of state for issuing a decree
which used Rp 400 billion of the government's reforestation fund
to finance a plan of the state aircraft manufacturer IPTN to
develop a new aircraft. The NGOs said the decree is in violation
of a regulation stressing that the funds should be used solely
for reforestation programs.

If the trial does proceed, this will be the first time since
the court was established in 1991 to name the head of state as
defendant.

Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono, during a hearing with the
House of Representatives on Wednesday, said that the President
has studied the allegations and was prepared to meet with the
NGOs in the court.

Moerdiono also gave his assurances that Soeharto would not try
to influence the legal process.

Public trust

The plaintiffs are the Indonesian Forum of Environment
(WALHI), the Foundation of Indonesian Tropical Nature, the
Foundation of Forum of the Study of Population and Environment,
the Foundation of the Institution of the Development of
Environment and Human Resources, the Indonesian Center for Law
Development, the Pelangi Foundation and the Foundation for the
Social Development Training and Support.

They are represented by Soekardjo Adidjojo from the Indonesian
Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Nursyahbani Katjasungkana from
Women's Solidarity for Human Rights, Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara
from the Policy Research of Advocation, and Nur Amalia of the
Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH).

"The allocation of the funds has eroded the public trust on
the government's commitment to the reforestation program...," the
plaintiffs said in the suit. They also demanded that the court
order the accused to pay Rp 5 million in compensation.

Judge Mangkoedilaga gave the plaintiffs until Oct.3 to improve
the suit. "If they can do it within the deadline, we will summon
the accused to court between Oct. 10 and 13," he said.

Mangkoedilaga said he will personally preside over the trial
if it comes to that and has appointed Soemaryono and A.R. Husny
to the panel of judges.

WALHI's executive Emmy Hafild told journalists yesterday that
she was pleased and relieved to learn that the court would
examine the case. "Passing the dismissal process is significant
progress," she said.

"Honestly speaking, at the beginning we doubted whether we
could pass it considering the great political weight," she added.

She hoped that the judges would not be pressured politically
and that the case would be tried in open sessions allowing the
public to follow them.

The President will be represented by the Attorney General.
(sim)