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)