Bayu Marhaenjati/FEB, Jakarta – The pre-trial hearing of national police chief candidate Commissioner General Budi Gunawan (BG) related to his declaration as a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was marred by a protest action at the South Jakarta District Court (PN) on Monday February 2.

Scores of protesters from the non-government organisations the Defenders of the Unity of the Fatherland (Pekat), the Indonesian Underground Social Movement (GMBI) and the United Betawi Forum (FBB) held a protest action with the theme “Save Polri” (Save the National Police) in front of the PN building on Jl. Ampera in South Jakarta.

A huge red banner with the message, “The judge must have the courage to rule that the declaration of BG as a suspect is illegal”, was attached to the fence in front of the court.

Other banners reading, “The judge must be impartial”, “Safeguard the NKRI [Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia] from Foreign Funded Intervention” and “Reconcile my Indonesia, Unite my Nation”, were also unfurled by the protesters.

“We stand here to safeguard the pre-trial hearing. The judge must be impartial and respect constitutional law”, said one of the speakers from atop the command vehicle in front of the court.

In a press release handed out by the demonstrators the groups declared the following: The judge must be impartial in ruling on the pre-trial motion and side with the interests of the nation and the state as well as the people, respect the constitutional state, respect the law, respect the ethics of law enforcement and save Polri from attempts to destroy it.

Meanwhile around six beautiful women wearing head bands reading “Save Polri” could also be seen handing out leaflets to passing drivers.

Hundreds of police officers could be seen closely guarding the area around the court and two Barracuda armored vehicles were parked on the court grounds.

Traffic on Jl. Ampera in the direction of Jl. Cilandak had to be redirected as a result of the protest action while the lane from Jl. Cilandak in the direction of Jl. Ampera was left open. Several police officers were also busy directing traffic.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was Sidang Praperadilan BG Diwarnai Unjuk Rasa.]

Source: http://www.beritasatu.com/hukum-kriminalitas/245622-sidang-praperadilan-bg-diwarnai-unjuk-rasa.html