Jakarta – The accused in the subversion case against the Peoples Democratic Party (PRD) who are interned at the Cipinang prison, began a hunger strike last Wednesday (26/2) because they consider their trials are engineered.

This was stated by Ken Budha Kusumandharu, in response to questions about the accused attitude compared to previous court sessions. Ken lifted his left hand wrapped with a red piece of cloth. "What does that mean?", asked a judge.

Ken explained that it was a sign that they are on a hunger strike. Written on the cloth was the sentence "PRD Hunger Strike". "We are carrying out this hunger strike to protest that this trial is being engineered" he explained. Ken repeated the explanation adding that other PRD members interned in the Salemba jail would also join the hunger strike.

Hearing the explanation, the judge became angered saying that the case against the PRD was not engineered. As proof of this said one of the judges, there are the Preliminary Investigation Reports of the accused and witnesses.

In the court yesterday, the public prosecutor Aman Subakti presented three witnesses against Ken Buda. Yacobus E Kurniawan, Ignatius D Pranowo, and Suroso however, refused to give evidence. Ycabus said that it was in conflict with the principles of "non-self incrimination", human rights and had already been explicitly stated in the case of Marsinah [9 people accused of murdering a worker activist (Marsinah) in 1995 - JB] based on article 168 of the Indonesian Criminal Code. Ign D Pranowo and Suroso made similar statements to the judge.

Despite warnings from the judge that all Indonesian citizens are obliged to be witnesses and that legal proceedings would be brought against them, they still refused to give evidence.

[Abridged translation from Media Indonesia - JB]