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Protest crushed by riot police

Source
South China Morning Post - April 29, 1997

Jenny Grant, Jakarta – Riot police violently broke up a protest outside a courtroom in the capital yesterday where pro-democracy activists were sentenced to jail terms of up to 13 years.

About 30 demonstrators in front of the tightly guarded District Court building were cheering for the five activists as they waited for judges to read the verdicts. They waved banners calling for freedom and democracy.

Budiman Sujatmiko, the head of the outlawed People's Democracy Party, made victory signs at the group from his cell inside the building.

He threw flowers at supporters and shouted: "Boycott the elections!"

Forty riot police armed with semi-automatic weapons, tear-gas and riot shields then moved in to disperse the protest. They pushed the demonstrators aside while police officers in plain clothes beat them and tore down the banners.

One officer stomped on the head of a protester who had been pushed to the ground. A number of journalists were also hit by security officers.

Three activists were beaten and arrested in the clash by security officers, who shoved them into police cars and drove them away.

The Legal Aid Institute identified the arrested as activists Anom, Taufan and Aris. Jakarta police headquarters denied they were holding the three. Sources said they were being detained by military authorities.

Judges handed down harsh sentences on the activists, who were accused under the subversion law of masterminding riots in Jakarta in July. The Government has branded the group as communists.

Sujatmiko, who handed flowers to the judges before they read out their verdict on him, received the toughest sentence of 13 years.

The popular activist earlier branded his trial a sham and kissed his mother, who broke down in tears. A crush of about 200 police, journalists and activists packed the courtroom.

Garda Sembiring received a 12-month sentence, Yakobus Eko Kurniawan eight years, Ignatius Damianus Pranowo nine years, and Suroso seven years.

Sentences of between 18 months and six years were handed down to four other activists at the South Jakarta Court.

Sujatmiko and his left-wing group have urged Indonesians to boycott the May 29 polls, reject the military's role in politics and support ousted opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri.

"With this decision the Government wants to show that if anyone rejects the elections they will have a big problem," said Bambang Widjayanto, the head of the Legal Aid Institute, who appeared as a witness during the trial.

Diplomats and foreign observers slammed the verdicts.

One European diplomat who witnessed the trial said: "It is a controversial verdict in light of the fact that parts of the elite like the National Commission on Human Rights have suggested the subversion law should be abolished."

Pakpahan's poor health continues to delay trial

Jakarta Post - April 22, 1997(Abridged from Tapol)

The subversion trial of Mochtar Pakpahan for allegedly making anti-government statements continues to be delayed because of his poor health.

Pakpahan yesterday underwent the first of 12 physiotherapy sessions to treat his paralysed right hand. His wife Rosintan said Pakpahan's appendix surgery on 3 April had not cured his abdominal complaint and he needed further treatment.

'His condition is getting worse,' she said from the Cikini hospital where Pakpahan is being treated.

Pakpahan was admitted to hospital on 7 March. Doctors believed he was suffering from a 'light stroke'.

Doctors later said he had lung cancer but a biopsy did not reveal this. After further examination, doctors revealed he had tuberculosis.

Rosintan said Pakpahan was unable to take the TB medicine. 'After he drank the medicine, he vomited and his body trembled,' she said.

When Pakpahan last appeared in court, on 3 March, he yelled at the presiding judge and accused him of ignoring his poor health. The judge claimed Pakpahan was trying toi attract press attention by bringing his health problems to court.

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