Sat, 23 Nov 1996

Suspected instigators tried

JAKARTA: The Attorney General's Office has handed over the subversion cases against ten people accused of masterminding the July 27 riots, to the Jakarta Prosecutors Office, Antara reported yesterday.

Attorney General's Office spokesman, Agung Suhartoyo, said here yesterday the Jakarta Prosecutors Office has, in turn, passed on the dossiers to prosecutors. Trials at the South and Central Jakarta district courts will commence later this month, Agung said, without giving specific dates.

The ten suspects are being detained by the Jakarta Prosecutors Office. Under Indonesian law, subversion is a crime punishable by death.

Attorney General's Office investigators have filed six subversion cases against Budiman Sudjatmiko, leader of the allegedly leftist organization Democratic People's Party (PRD), and his friends.

One of the six cases, against Jacobus, Ignatius Damianus Pranono and Suroso, will be filed separately on Monday.

The remaining five cases were presented yesterday. Four of the cases are against Budiman, labor activist Muchtar Pakpahan, and two PRD activists, Petrus H. Hariyanto and Garda Sembiring. The last case was filed against PRD activists Ken Budha Kusumandaru, Ignatius Putut Arintoko, and Victor da Costa.

The ten have been accused of masterminding the riots which erupted following the forced takeover of the disputed headquarters of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) on July 27. At least four people died in the incident while a score of buildings were destroyed.

Prosecutors appointed to Muchtar's case are R. Moekiyat, Widya Pranowo, and Yuyu Ayongsari. Budiman will be prosecuted by M. Salim, Widodo Supriyadi, and Eli Tumondo.

Garda will be prosecuted by M. Parela, B. Lumbangaol, and Murtanto. Petrus H. Hariyanto will be prosecuted by Slamet Subagyo, Frits Piri, Soedati, and M.A. Nasiboe.

Ken Budha Kusumandaru, Ignatius Putut Arintoko and Victor da Costa will be prosecuted by Aman Surbakti, Kamaruddin, Sulaeman Hardjarati and Ari Priyo Agung, according to Antara. (swe)