Terror at the courthouse

Terror at the courthouse

A lamentable incident occurred at the courthouse. It concerned
not a defendant having difficulty finding justice, but defense
lawyers who were ill-treated by the public. Petrus Bala Pattyona,
a defense lawyer representing the men suspected of robbery and
rape in Bekasi, was beaten, stoned and trampled on by members of
the public after the pretrial inquiry at the Bekasi court of
justice. Stones, bottles and pieces of wood also hit some of
Petrus' colleagues of the Syaman Ritonga law firm.

We understand the public's anger towards the suspects. Acan
was robbed and his wife and daughters were raped. In the context
of the judiciary process, however, people must respect the
principle of the presumption of innocence. As long as they have
not been sentenced by the court, the suspects must be regarded
innocent. This principle must be respected in order that people
do not become the victims of arbitrary action.

It appears that some of us still do not understand the role of
defense lawyers in the judiciary process. People were unable to
restrain their emotions and hence to control their actions.
Unless the security officers can guarantee the safety of the
defense lawyers in the case of the robbery and rape, we agree
with the suggestions made that the trial be moved from the Bekasi
court of justice.

The judiciary process must not be hampered by acts of terror
by the masses. The rights of all parties involved in the trial
must be respected.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta