Parties' state assets suit to be settled out of court

Parties' state assets suit to be settled out of court

M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post , Jakarta

Political parties protesting over the control of state assets by
three major political parties eventually agreed on Tuesday to
settle the matter out of court under the supervision of a judge
of the Central Jakarta District Court.

In the hearing on Tuesday, the court offered for the fourth
time a legal avenue to the lawyers of the plaintiff which consist
of 13 political parties and to the lawyers of the three largest
parties the United Development Party (PPP), the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Golkar.

The three were accused of illegally occupying state assets as
their offices.

The plaintiffs are, among others, the National Mandate Party
(PAN), the National Awakening Party (PKB), and the New Indonesia
Alliance Party (PPIB).

Presiding judge Herri Swantoro ordered the conflicting parties
to reach an amicable settlement within 22 working days. The panel
of judges appointed Judge Agus Subroto as a mediator in the
subsequent negotiations.

"In line with guidelines from the Supreme Court which state
that mediation is one among many avenues to pursue in a civil
suit, we demand that both sides take this path. We are hopeful
that both parties will be able to reach an agreement in the time
alloted."

Speaking after the trial, the plaintiff's lawyer Ikhsan
Abdullah said that although he would comply with the court
ruling, he doubted a settlement could be reached.

"We are under pressure...we agreed to accept arbitration only
because it is the most plausible option given by the court. But I
believe that it won't work, as my clients will not retreat until
the ill-gotten assets are returned to the state," he said.

In the previous trials, Ikhsan has repeatedly stated that his
clients would not accept a court-brokered settlement.

The plaintiffs accused the three of violating Law No. 5/1960
on land reform, as the law stipulates that only individuals and
legal entities are eligible to own land; therefore, they demanded
the accused return the state assets they currently occupy.

The parties were then given a chance to benefit from state
facilities by the authoritarian regime of president Soeharto in
return for compliance with government policies.

Contacted separately, Golkar Party lawyer Zul Amali Pasaribu
said that his client would not surrender the land and a building
in Slipi, West Jakarta, where the party's central office is
located.

"We have secured the ownership of the land," he told The
Jakarta Post.

The presiding judge set the next hearing for March 18 to hear
the outcome of the mediation.