Subversion defendands treated poorly: Relatives
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)