Moving protest in Indonesian courtroom

On April 7, members of the Struggle Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights (APDHAM) entered the courtroom where Dita Sari and Coen Pontoh were being tried. It was the day on which they would read their defence speeches.

At 10.00am, Dita and Coen arrived. Dita handed out flowers to the judge, prosecutor and people in the gallery, and then read out the PRD Manifesto. Her reading was punctuated by frequent shouts of support and applause. After 15 minutes, Coen Pontoh took over and finished the reading. Dita then read a 51-page statement setting out the PRD political struggle.

People in the gallery began singing "Hymn of Blood", a much loved song of struggle. The judge threatened expulsion of troublemakers.

Dita began to cry as she neared the end of her speech. The crowd went completely silent as they listened.

The judges called an adjournment after Dita finished. The APDHAM activists all stood up and formed a solid group in the middle of the courtroom. Coen Pontoh raised his fist, shouting several democratic slogans and then led the activists in singing "Hymn of Blood" again. Most people were seen to be in tears, including Dita, Pontoh and their families. This was followed by the singing of more songs and chants of "Free our comrades". Dita and Pontoh were led out of the courtroom.

Outside the APDHAM activists gathered again, putting on headbands and raising posters with the slogan "Democracy or Death!" . East Timorese youth, students and Megawati supporters joined the group as several activists made speeches. The security apparatus gathered but the rally refused to disperse. There were more speeches and activists handed out leaflets to everybody attending the trial.

When the session resumed, Coen Pontoh read his defence statement, followed by that of the defence lawyers. The security apparatus then quickly dragged Dita out the back door to a waiting van. Before she was dragged inside, she handed out flowers, then raised her fist and shouted, "Long live the PRD! Long live democracy! Long live the Maubere people!"
[Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor received this report direct from the PRD underground.]

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