Jakarta – Former Indonesian president Suharto's failure to attend the opening of his own trial Thursday had been widely expected but public patience is wearing. Economists, political analysts and a former judge warned of further social unrest if the "stage show" continues.

Bandying a letter from the head of Suharto's private team of doctors, defence lawyer Juan Felix Tampubolon told the court that the 79-year-old was medically unfit to appear at the tribunal. Doctors examined Suharto early Thursday, he said.

The head of the panel of five judges hearing the case, Lalu Mariyun later demanded that both Suharto's private team of doctors and another appointed by the attorney general, both be heard by the court.

"This may drag on, and the consequence is that the people may be further frustrated and this can carry negative results," Economist Pande Raja Silalahi said. He said people would see the trial as a mere show with the government's commitment to upholding justice a mere slogan. They may lose what confidence they have left in the government, he said, adding that if their patience is tried, they may take matters into their own hands.

"Why does the government simply not bring Suharto physically to court, accompanied by doctors, if need be, and let the judge and the public judge for themselves whether he really is unfit to stand trial," Silalahi said.

Benjamin Mangkudilaga, a judge respected for his integrity when he headed the Jakarta state administrative court, said whatever argument is presented by the defence, judges would decide whether Suharto was unfit for trial.

He said judges could see Suharto's condition for themselves by visiting the former autocrat at home, or attempt to communicate with him through teleconferencing.

"We were just shown a stage show," said Hendardi who chairs the Indonesian Association of Legal Aid and Human Rights. The prosecutor should have taken over the treatment of Suharto," Hendardi said. Under Indonesian laws, the prosecutors are responsible for bringing a defendant to court.

Hendardi said the health issue could have been avoided if the prosecutor had taken over responsibility for Suharto's health treatment, especially after he was declared a defendant on August 23.

Political observer Andi Mallarangeng, a former member of the national electoral committee, said although he did not have "a lot of expectations" for the trial, Suharto must show up at court. "I think he should show up at the trial ... as a human being I can sympathize with him, but he has brought this whole event down on himself as a result of his past actions," Mallaranggeng said.

Silalahi and Hendardi both warned that public disappointment and frustration over the trial may easily translate into public rallies, and possibly lead to violence. "Demonstrations, protests by both camps, are one of the forms these frustrations can take, and I think the market is mostly worried about this aspect," Silalahi said.

The Jakarta share market spoke for itself when its index closed morning trade 1.0 percent down. Dealers blamed concerns of violence and unrest linked to the trial.

An explosion had alreay rocked an area not far from the tightly guarded venue of the trial in South Jakarta late on Wednesday. The blast, which police believed was caused by powereful firecrackers, damaged a parked bus but caused no injuries.

Vociferous anti-Suharto yells greeted the certainty that Suharto would not appear in court. Hundreds of student rallying in front of the gate of the venue, deamnded that Suharto appear in court "sick or not."

Student reformers who helped topple Suharto in 1998, reacted with anger and disgust at the his absence. They said they will push for "a trial by the people" and warned that in the coming days, they would take to the streets "in huge numbers and target buildings that are symbolic of Suharto's power."