Pakpahan trial proceeds in spite of illness

Pakpahan trial proceeds in spite of illness

JAKARTA (JP): The subversion trial of labor leader Muchtar
Pakpahan continued at the South Jakarta District Court yesterday,
in spite of his illness.

But the hearing, held with the defendant's consent, was
adjourned after two hours when it became apparent that Pakpahan,
who had a bad case of the flu, was too sick to continue.

The court had listened to the testimony of one witness for the
prosecution, instead of six as originally scheduled, when Judge
Djadzuli decided to stop the hearing.

The next hearing is slated for Thursday.

Pakpahan, who was visibly fatigued, excused himself several
times from the court room as he battled with a cough.

The 43-year-old chairman of the Indonesian Prosperous Labor
Union is being charged with subversion for a series of fiery
anti-government speeches he made last year. According to the
prosecution, the speeches sowed public hatred against the
government and undermined its authority.

Politician Ridwan Saidi, the only person who took the witness
stand yesterday, continued with the testimony he gave on
Thursday.

Defense lawyers pressed Ridwan to clarify his earlier
assertion that Pakpahan had made "strong" statements during a
meeting at the headquarters of the Indonesian Democratic Party
(PDI) in Jakarta on June 17.

Ridwan said the term "strong" referred to Pakpahan's voice and
not the substance of his statements.

Judge Djadzuli, annoyed at the defense lawyers' persistent
questions on the issue, said the witness's testimony was clear
and that the court would note it accordingly.

"Fine, we will use your words later for our defense,"
responded Adnan Buyung Nasution, who headed the defense council.

Pakpahan and Ridwan were among the activists who visited the
PDI's headquarters when it was still occupied by Megawati
Soekarnoputri in June and July last year. A fight over the
headquarters between Megawati's supporters and those of Soerjadi
led to a massive rioting on July 27.

When prosecutor R. Moekiat pressed Ridwan for any hint that
Pakpahan had made statements against the government, the witness
said: "To the best of my knowledge, the activists came to voice
their support for Megawati's leadership of the PDI."

Also tried separately at the same court yesterday were leaders
of the Democratic People's Party (PRD) -- Petrus Hariyanto, Ken
Budha Kusumandaru, Victor Da Costa, and Ignatius Putut Anrintoko.

They are being charged with subversion for their activities,
including the organization of various labor demonstrations and
their failure to stipulate Pancasila as their ideology.

Budiman

In the Central Jakarta District Court, PRD chairman
Budiman Sujatmiko was tried on the same charges of subversion.

An employee at the House of Representatives (DPR) Secretariat,
testifying for the government, said he heard Budiman make
threatening statements to the government when he visited the DPR
building on June 14.

Haposan Hutabarat, a public relations staff member at the DPR,
recalled that Budiman had delivered a speech when he and about 50
other activists came to the DPR building to protest the
government's decision to allow Megawati's opponents in the PDI to
hold a congress in Medan, North Sumatra.

Hutabarat, whose job is to arrange meetings for visitors with
legislators, recalled Budiman using the words "we will take
definite steps" against the government.

When Judge Syoffinan Sumantri asked Budiman to give his
opinion of Hutabarat's testimony, the defendant denied making the
statement. "I object to the statement which suggested that I said
I would take definite steps against the government. I said no
such thing."

The trial was adjourned until Thursday. (08/36)