Witnesses say People's Summit never happened
JAKARTA (JP): All six witnesses called in lawsuits filed by stage actress Ratna Sarumpaet and five other people for wrongful arrest testified in court yesterday that the Indonesian People's Summit on March 10 did not happen.
But police, in their defense statement, insisted that the plaintiffs were arrested red-handed holding the illegal political meeting at Putri Duyung Cottage in Ancol, North Jakarta.
Ratna and the other plaintiffs -- her daughter Fathom Saulina, lawyer Alexius Surya Tjahaya Tomu, reporter Ging Ginanjar and activists Jul Taher and Nandang Wirakusumah -- are suing the North Jakarta Police chief, Lt. Col. Rismawan, and the City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata for illegal arrest and detention.
The witnesses, political scientist Arbi Sanit, legal aid activist Hendardi, reporter Roy Pakpahan and human rights activists HJC. Princen, M.M. Billah and Gustav Depu, gave their testimony at North Jakarta District Court.
Arbi said the meeting had not occurred because Ratna canceled it before it was scheduled to open at about 10 a.m. on the request of the cottage's management.
"Ratna apologized to the guests for the cancellation, asked them to sing the national anthem Indonesia Raya and a patriotic song, and then prayed. That's all," the lecturer at the University of Indonesia said.
Asked whether any of Ratna's words could have been interpreted as spreading hatred against the government, he only said: "No, there weren't."
He said Ratna was then dragged away by several plainclothes police officers.
When Ratna asked for an arrest warrant, an officer showed her a piece of paper but Ratna refused to accept it because her name was not on it, he said.
"In the midst of the commotion, the North Jakarta Police chief suddenly said: 'I'm the police chief, I don't need a warrant,'" Arbi said.
Arbi's testimony was similar to those of other witnesses, such as Gustav, Roy and Billah.
About the arrest of Ging, a reporter for Australia's Special Broadcasting System Radio Indonesia section, Gustav said he recognized the plaintiff was a journalist.
"(When Ging was being arrested) I thought he was interviewing Ratna like many journalists at the scene," Gustav said.
Ging, a former journalist for the defunct DeTik tabloid, had earlier told the court that he was on duty and joined Ratna in a police van which transported them to the North Jakarta Police precinct because the police allowed him to.
"Anyone wanting to join us (going to the police office), is welcome," Ging quoted a police officer as saying.
After spending a few hours at the police station, he wanted to go home but the police forbade him.
Hendardi, the executive director of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association said he assigned one of his lawyers, Alexius, to go to the meeting after he received a phone call that the meeting venue was packed with police officers.
"The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute also sent their lawyers. Why did the police arrest a lawyer who was on duty? It could raise insecurity fears among lawyers," he said.
The police submitted their written evidence to the court yesterday.
Three judges, Soeparto, Ismail L. and Pandapotan Sinaga, adjourned the trial until Tuesday when the court ruling will be made.
Ratna and the other plaintiffs were among nine people arrested at the hotel facility. The other three people: activist Bonar Tigor Naipospos, freelance reporter Adi Hermawan and poet Aspar Paturusi were released without being charged. Fathom was released from detention on her father's request. (jun)