Priest indicted for harboring fugitives

Priest indicted for harboring fugitives

JAKARTA (JP): Jesuit Catholic priest Ignatius Sandyawan
Sumardi and his brother, Benny Sumardi, were indicted yesterday
for harboring two alleged masterminds of the July 27, 1996,
riots.

Prosecutor Darwis Lubay told the Bekasi District Court in
Bekasi, West Java, that Sandyawan and Benny, a furniture
entrepreneur, would be sentenced to a maximum nine-month jail
term for violating Article 221 of the Criminal Code.

Darwis charged that Sandyawan, 38, and Benny, 44, had provided
shelter to the Democratic People's Party (PRD) leader Budiman
Sudjatmiko along with activists Yakobus Eko Kurniawan and Petrus
Hari Haryanto.

The alleged episode occurred at Benny's house in Bekasi on
Aug. 3, 1996.

The three student activists were at the time wanted for
allegedly masterminding the July 27, 1996, riots in Central
Jakarta.

Budiman was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in jail in
March. His colleagues have also been arrested and given light
sentences.

Sandyawan said the trial was a trying act of humanity.

"When an act of humanity is being tried, it is a source of
reflection for us all," he said.

Sandyawan maintained that his decision to harbor the wanted
activists was a personal choice and he was ready to face the
consequences.

"It was purely my autonomous decision. It was not, for
example, an order from the Vatican," he added.

The priest and his brother were defended by lawyers Luhut M.P.
Pangaribuan, Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara, Suhana Natawilwana and
Dwiyanto Prihartono.

Sandyawan is renown for his social work, actively helping
street children and involved in land disputes affecting the poor.

The trial was adjourned yesterday until next week. (05)