Danang Sangga Buwana, Jakarta – Just because they refused to withdraw a class action launched against Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri which was linked to prince increases to fuel, electricity and telephone charges, the offices of the People's Lawyers Union (Serikat Pengacara Rakyat, SPR) in South Jakarta, was attacked by a group of unknown assailants.
This was related by SPR spokesperson Hibiburrochman at the Kontras offices in Jakarta on Wednesday. According to Rochman, the planned court session of the suit against Megawati was to be held at the Central Jakarta state court on Thursday.
"Terror and intimidation against SPR is clearly a link in the chain of terror and intimidation which has occurred in a number of placing following pro-democratic demands which have called for the government of Megawati and Vice-president Hamzah Haz to resign", he said.
Rochman explained that the attack occurred on February 25 at 1.11pm when as many as 12 well-built men wearing smart cloths arrived at the SPR offices. The wanted to meet with the SPR spokesperson but then forced their way into the office, smashing windows and making threats.
"You want to resolve this problem properly or not. [You] want to be finished off, [you] want trouble, [then] basically you must withdraw tomorrow's class action, if not we will be back", said Rochman mimicking the words of one of the men.
As well as making threats, the unknown group also tried to Rochman to hand over his license to work as a lawyer. "At that time I was not carrying my licensee so they took a copy", said Rochman.
According to Rochman, this was not the first attack, as the SPR offices had been terrorised on February 19. On the basis of this intimidation, SPR complained to Kontras and the Pasar Minggu local police so that it would not be repeated.
"This action is a reflection of the slowness of the Mega-Hamzah government in responding to acts of terror. This is not just happening in Jakarta, but in Yogyakarta when the local People's Democratic Party offices were bombed and in Jember, where the Student Executive Council Offices of the Jember University was also attacked by unknown assailants", he added.
[Translated by James Balowski.]