Two soldiers testify against Aberson

Two soldiers testify against Aberson

JAKARTA (JP): Two military witnesses testified yesterday in
the Central Jakarta District Court against Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI) legislator Aberson Marle Sihaloho by recalling the
defamatory statements he allegedly made against President
Soeharto.

The witnesses, First Corporal Suratno, aged 37, and Sergeant
Sunarto, 24, both of the Jakarta regional military command, said
they recalled Aberson making a slanderous speech.

Suratno said that on July 13, 1996, he was ordered by his
superior, whom he did not name, to monitor the free-speech forum
held at the disputed PDI headquarters in Central Jakarta. He was
equipped with a camcorder and tape recorder.

Aberson was the third speaker at the forum but Sunarto failed
to recollect the two earlier speakers. Aberson allegedly said:
"Our freedom has been stolen and we are being colonized again
under Soeharto's 30-year leadership."

He also allegedly said: "The Army is behind the generals'
deaths in the 1965 communist coup and the demise of DI/TII."

DI/TII, the Darul Islam/Tentara Islam Indonesia, was a
movement seeking to establish an independent Indonesian Islamic
State in 1949, led by army deserter S.M. Kartosuwiryo. The then
president Sukarno crushed the movement in 1962.

Aberson also allegedly said: "Legislators no longer represent
the people's interests but they serve the conglomerates."

Aberson said yesterday that his statements had been taken by
the witnesses out of context but he did not elaborate.

Presided over by Judge Soehardjo, the trial is scheduled to
resume next Tuesday to question two other officers involved in
monitoring the free-speech forum held by the supporters of ousted
PDI chief Megawati Soekarnoputri in protest against her rival,
government-backed chairman Soerjadi.

In a separate session at the same district court, the trial of
youth activist Budiman Sudjatmiko continued yesterday. He was
earlier accused of masterminding the July 27 riots that erupted
after the forced takeover of the PDI headquarters by Soerjadi's
camp and the military.

Budiman, chairman of the unrecognized Democratic People's
Party (PRD), appeared in high spirits in court. He wore a slogan
on his left shirt sleeve that said "Boycott the elections."

Budiman is being charged under the 1963 Subversion Law for
allegedly undermining the state and insulting government
officials through his party's activities. Subversion is a crime
which carries a maximum penalty of death.

Judge Syoffinan Sumantri is presiding over the court, the
leading prosecutor yesterday was M. Salim while the defense team
was led by Luhut Pangaribuan.

Two other PRD activists Suroso and Yacobus Eko Kurniawan, both
aged 24, refused to testify against Budiman, citing article 168
of the Criminal Code Procedures which stipulates that witnesses
can withdraw their testimony if charged under the same sentence
as the defendant. (01)