Jakarta – I Gusti Agung Anom Astika, one of the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PRD) has refused to be a witness in the subversion case against the Secretary General of the PRD, Petrus Hariyanto. His statement was given to the South Jakarta Court on Monday, February 24.

"I refuse to be a witness against the accused Petrus Haryanto. Because this would violate the human rights of the accused. Aside from this I am also accused in a case which resembles the case against Petrus Hariyanto" said Anom.

In yesterday's subversion case, lawyers of the accused Petrus Hariyanto and Ken Budha Kusumandaru each stated their objection to the presiding judge that the public prosecutor had read the statements of witnesses without their appearance.

In Petrus' case, defense lawyer Leonard Simorangkir expressed his concern when the presiding judge Moegihardjo allowed the public prosecutor Slamet Soebagio to read evidence from Didit Soetopo who did not appear in court.

Responding to the defense attorneys objects, Moegihardjo said that the objections would be noted and invited the prosecutor to read the testimony of Didit Soetopo. "If there is an objection from the defense we will note it" said Moegihardjo.

Witnesses evidence read

The same issue occurred in the questioning of Ken Budha Kusumandaru, Victor da Costa and Ign Putut Arintoko. The public prosecutor said that they would read the witnesses' testimony.

The request to read the testimony of the witnesses by the public prosecutor Aman Surbakti was granted by the presiding judge Soedadi. "We object that the testimony of the witnesses is only based on their BAPs" said lawyer Irianto Subiakto.

In the Central Jakarta State Court

Meanwhile, two witnesses from the Bogor [West Java - JB] Office of Social and Political Affairs in the case against Budiman Sudjatmiko told the judge that they know about the existence of a hand written letter written by Budiman 8 years ago [Budiman's first 'run-in' with the authorities was when he was still in high school; he was brought in for questioning by the intelligence body Bakorstanas after being reported by the school's headmaster for organising 'Marxist' discussion groups at school. Given his age and the fact that his activities were restricted to discussions, Bakorstanas took no action at that time - JB].

Yamin M Saleh, the head of the Bogor Office of Social and Political Affairs, said he had a discussion with Budiman in 1988 related to his activities when he was in Senior High School in Bogor.

His office, said Saleh, received a letter from the principle which in essence provided information on Budiman's activities which were considered to disturb other students by their discussion groups.

"In the discussion, Budiman showed a great interest in the teachings of Marx" said Saleh, he also added that Lenin and Tito were included in world figures admired by Budiman [In later years, Budiman used to regularly visit the Russian and Yugaslavian Embassies in Jakarta to borrow books on Lenin, Tito and others - JB].

Saleh emphasised that Budiman, liked to discuss plans to form a "Marx House" as a place to exchange their thoughts. The letter written in Budiman's handwriting to send to his friends, was the basis of Saleh's discussions [with Budiman - JB]. "In the letter there were many uses of the jargon "comrades in arms" and "salam red", said Saleh.

When the letter written by Budiman was accepted, Saleh was only able to show a photocopy of the letter. He did not bring the BAB at the time of the discussions with Budiman.

Budiman's lawyer, Luhut MP Pangaribuan stated his objections to the witness who only based his testimony on what he had heard from another person. Not from what he had heard or seen himself.

Budiman also stated an objection against the question of the witness. "In accordance with the spirit of the process of the trial which is cheap and effective, I request the judges consideration of the relevance of the witness which was presented" [he said - JB].

The accusations against me make an issue of my activities between 1995 and 1996 while the witness questioned me in 1998", said Budiman.

[Abridged translation from Kompas - JB]