'Tempo' hearing delayed

'Tempo' hearing delayed

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The police, facing a lawsuit for failing to prevent an assault
on Tempo journalists, also failed to attend a hearing on the case
on Monday, forcing the court to delay it.

Presiding judge Iskandar Tjakke adjourned the session until
June 2, when lawyers for the plaintiffs will deliver their suit.

A civil prosecution was filed by the Association of
Independent Journalists (AJI) against the national police chief,
the city police chief, the Central Jakarta police chief and the
Menteng police chief.

It centered on an assault on several Tempo journalists during
a violent demonstration staged on March 8 by some 200 supporters
of tycoon Tomy Winata over an article in the weekly that
implicated Tomy in a recent fire that had razed Tanah Abang
market here. Some of the protesters later took the journalists to
the Central Jakarta police station to settle the case. While at
the police station, the harassment against the journalists
continued while the police did nothing to stop it.

Monday's session was scheduled to start at 9 a.m., but judge
Iskandar did not open it until 11:50 a.m. -- simply to announce
that the hearing was adjourned.

The judge said that the court had sent the summons to the
national police chief, the city police chief, the Central Jakarta
police chief and the Menteng police chief.

One of the lawyers, Azas Tigor Nainggolan, complained about
the absence of the accused, and protested the fact that the court
was almost three hours behind schedule.

"We call upon the panel of judges to be consistent. We were
invited to attend the hearing at 9 a.m., so we expect it to start
by 10 a.m. at the latest. But today, we have had to wait until
11:50," Azas said. "Next time, please be on time."

In response to the protest, Iskandar said that the beginning
of the hearing depended on both parties.

"If both parties arrived before 9 a.m., we could start (at
that time)," he said.

The courts here are notorious for "rubber time", as court
sessions are often conducted far behind scheduled times, without
any explanation for the lateness.

In its lawsuit, AJI said the police had violated Law No.2/2002
on the Police, which stipulates their duty to maintain security
and order, enforce the law and protect and serve the public.

The plaintiffs added that the police were also accused of
violating article 7 (d) of Law No.9/1998 on the Freedom of Speech
about the obligation of government apparatus to provide security
to guarantee freedom of speech, and Press Law No. 40/1999 which
guarantees press freedom.