PKI members cleared to proceed with suit

PKI members cleared to proceed with suit

JAKARTA: The Central Jakarta District Court ruled on Wednesday
that former members of the now-outlawed Indonesian Communist
Party (PKI) could proceed with a class-action lawsuit against
the President.

"Presiding judge Cicut Sutiarso read the court's decision that
the class-action suit was legal. He ordered that we make a public
announcement and provide an opportunity to withdraw from the suit
for those people who wish to do so," said a legal representative
for the group, Uli Parulian.

Uli said this initial ruling on the suit would be followed by
a more substantial evaluation scheduled for July 20.

Some 14 representatives of the former PKI members filed a
class action last month against current President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono and former presidents Soeharto, BJ Habibie, Abdurrahman
Wahid and Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The group is demanding that their economic, social and
cultural rights be restored and that the government annul any
laws that discriminate against former party members. -- JP