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.