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)