Suit against Sutiyoso to continue

Suit against Sutiyoso to continue

JAKARTA: The Central Jakarta District Court ruled on Monday to
allow a class action filed against Governor Sutiyoso over
widespread evictions by the city administration to proceed.

Eight people, claiming to represent 15,000 low-income
Jakartans including pedicab drivers, buskers and street vendors,
also sued the city police chief and the city military commander
for backing the evictions.

"The court has the authority to try this case, therefore, the
case should be continued," presiding judge I Nengah Suriada said.

He also called upon the administration to halt evictions
against the poor during the fasting month of Ramadhan.

About 200 people attending the hearing began applauding after
the judge delivered his ruling.

During the hearing, Suriada also announced that someone had
attacked his car, which was parked in the court's yard, on
Oct.19. He suspected that the incident might have something to do
with the case. --JP