Subversion defendands treated poorly: Relatives
JAKARTA (JP): The relatives of some jailed activists standing trial for subversion protested Thursday the courts' alleged poor treatment of the defendants.
Rosintan, the wife of labor leader Muchtar Pakpahan, joined the parents of activists of the unrecognized Democratic People's Party (PRD) seeking the Ministry of Justice's attention on alleged unfair treatment from judges.
The activists -- Budiman Sudjatmiko, Suroso, Ign. Damianus Pranowo, Yakobus Eko Kurniawan, and Ken Budha Kusumandaru -- are being tried for allegedly undermining the state ideology Pancasila and defaming President Soeharto.
Budiman's mother, Sri Sulastri, charged that court officials mistreated her son and the other activists.
In Pakpahan's case, the chairman of the unrecognized Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI) was repeatedly denied access to intensive medical checkups.
Pakpahan is currently being treated at the Cikini Hospital in Central Jakarta for a growth on the lungs, and has sought permission to seek medical help abroad. Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman, however, said he did not believe such a move was necessary as Pakpahan's health evaluation was still ongoing.
"Our hospitals have all the equipment to cure Muchtar's illness," Oetojo said. "Moreover, Muchtar is still prohibited to travel abroad."
However, Oetojo told reporters that Muchtar could seek special permission from the Attorney General's Office to seek medical treatment abroad.
The delegation of eight family members of the activists, accompanied by a lawyer from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute, failed to meet with Oetojo Oesman.
They were received behind closed doors by the ministry's chief of public relations Sardjono and Inspector General Soejatno.
Rosintan told reporters afterward that the two officials had disclaimed any responsibility over the judges's treatment toward the defendants. "But the officials promised to 'correct the attitude' of the judges," she said.
Liliek Karnadi, the father of Ken Budha Kusumandaru, cited how two officials who received them said that "bad judges" were beyond their jurisdiction. "They said the ministry is only responsible to educate and 'supply' judges," he said. (05/imn)