Student groups defy court verdict over rallies
Student groups defy court verdict over rallies
JAKARTA (JP): Two student groups charged with holding illegal
street rallies in the capital on Monday rejected their trials at
the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday.
The first group, 99 members of the Student Action Front for
Reform and Democracy (Famred) appeared in court in the afternoon
but later walked out before the judges banged their gavels to
open their trial.
The second group, 96 students of the United Students Committee
(KMB) refused to appear in the same court and decided to remain
in police custody to show their solidarity with their protesting
fellow students, who are charged with slandering government
officials.
The Famred students, mostly women, were arrested by the police
while taking part in a street protest on Monday to mark
International Women's Day in front of the United Nations
representative office here on Jl. M.H. Thamrin in Central
Jakarta.
The Forbes members were netted in a separate street
demonstration near the Ministry of Defense and Security on Jl.
Tanah Abang, also in Central Jakarta, to demand the revocation of
the Armed Forces' dual function.
Police said the protesters have been participating in street
rallies without prior notification to them as required by the new
Law No.9/1998 on freedom of speech.
According to the Famred defendants, they rejected the trial
since they did not recognize the political legitimacy of the
members of the House of Representatives (DPR) who made the law.
"It was established by politically illegitimate DPR members,"
one of the defendants told the court, which was presided over by
Judge Endang Sri Murwati.
Applauded by at least 200 supporters, the defendants then
walked out of the four courtrooms in which they were being tried.
Endang and the other three judges then continued the trial in
the absence of the defendants. They sentenced the students, who
are from various universities in the capital, to fines of Rp
2,000 (22 U.S. cents) each or three days in jail.
"Our duty is just to hand down the verdict. It's the duty of
the prosecutors to ask the students whether they will pay the
fines or choose jail instead," judge Endang said.
One of the students' lawyers, Hotma Timbul Hutapea, said the
judges' verdict was not valid.
"The judges have to bring the students to court before they
can decide on a verdict. They could even force the students to
enter the courtroom if needed," Hotma said.
Since the decision is invalid, the lawyers have rejected the
verdict and would not make any appeal to the Supreme Court, he
said.
"We take the view that there was no trial today and therefore
no verdict," Hotma added.
Prosecutor Amri S. regretted the students' action, adding that
the defendants had no respect at all for the court.
"They could plead not guilty. But it should be expressed in
peaceful terms, not yelling and making noises inside the
courtroom," Amri said.
The defendants, who arrived at the court at 1 p.m in three
police trucks, sang and delivered speeches before leaving the
court in the company of their supporters.
Meanwhile, the 96 KMB students -- after first refusing to
attend the trial -- finally arrived at the court at 6 p.m. in
three police trucks but found that the court was already closed.
Their lawyer, Daniel Panjaitan, said the students then left
the court.
But Daniel said he had been informed that the court had
already sentenced the students to the fine faced by the Famred
students.
He said that the students are still considering appealing
against the verdict. (jun)