PRD activist denies anti-government charges

Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya

The chairman of the East Java chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PRD), Eusebius Purwadi, denied charges that he had circulated antigovernment pamphlets and incited local people to reject President Megawati Soekarnoputri's government.

Eusebius, 26, and four legislators from the Surabaya chapter of the National Awakening Party (PKB) are facing a maximum sentence of 10 and half years jail if convicted of defamation charges.

"The prosecutor's charges are really a slander to attempt to cover the government's weaknesses," Eusebius, 26, told a panel of judges at the Surabaya District Court on Monday afternoon.

Also attending the second court session, presided over by Harwoko, were 150 supporters of PRD. Purwadi, represented by lawyer Judhi Burhan, handed roses to the judges and the prosecutor.

The five were arrested by Surabaya police last August for allegedly circulating pamphlets rejecting the June Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly, demanding the dissolution of the Golkar Party and calling on local people to oppose Megawati's government.

In the previous court session government prosecutor Wem said Purwadi had incited local people to reject Megawati's government by spreading resentment of her rule among the people.

Judhi told the judges that the prosecutor's charges were unclear and groundless.

He questioned the prosecutor's motives behind the charges because the way he was charging his client was similar to the way the former New Order regime had treated activists.

"Therefore, judges should turn down the prosecutor's charges," he said.

The court session was adjourned until next Monday.