PRD activist denies anti-government charges

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.