Trial of attackers of Kontras office starts

Trial of attackers of Kontras office starts

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Seven defendants went on trial on Tuesday for attacking the
Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras)
office building on Jl. Mendut, Menteng, Central Jakarta, last
month.

The indictment presented by chief prosecutor Firdaus Dewilmar
at the Central Jakarta District Court did not clearly stipulate
the reasons for the attack on March 13.

According to the indictment, the attack occurred following a
rally by 300 people in front of the office, accusing the
nongovernmental organization of being discriminatory toward their
relatives, who were members of military-backed vigilante squads
(Pam Swakarsa). The protesters demanded equal treatment to the
Pamswakarsa victims following a riot protesting the Special
Session of the People's Consultative Assembly in November 1998.

Two of the seven defendants had tried to meet in person with
Kontras founder, Munir, but later on, the attackers vandalized
the office, including property inside.

The trial of the defendants took place only about a month
after the incident. The trial process was quick as none of the
seven defendants was represented by lawyers.

One of them had tried to raise an objection to the indictment
but was overruled by presiding judge Silvester Djuma.

After the prosecutors presented the indictment, three police
officers testified as witnesses against the defendants. They were
present at the location during the attack. They claimed that they
could not prevent the attack.

"They outnumbered us," said one of the officers, Mahmudi.

If convicted, the seven defendants could be sentenced to seven
years in jail.

The court will resume next week to hear witnesses from
Kontras.

The attack on the Kontras office has attracted public
attention. Human rights activists said that the attack was an
escalation of terror.

Kontras has become the target of violence over the past few
years. A grenade explosion damaged several cars parked in front
of the office in 2000.