All 16 suspects in the Feb. 3 demonstration that lead to the death of chief councillor Abdul Azis Angkat will stand trial at the Medan District Court on Tuesday.
The 16, grouped in ten dossiers, were, among others, identified as Roy Frans Sinaga, Fernando Situmorang, Christian Manurung, Erwin Lubis, Richard Rikardo Marbun, Gelmok Samosir, Tardi Siregar, Joko Subiakto, Anju Mangasi Naibaho, Suprihandi Hutapea.
Spokesman for the Medan District Court Lorensius Sibarani said here Sunday the suspects were tried for their alleged involvement in the use of violence and the destruction of state facilities at the provincial legislature building.
"They will be indicted for using violence, stopping by force a plenary session of the legislative council and damaging state facilities in the legislature building," he said, citing chapters of 146, 170 and 335 of the Criminal Code.
In a break from routine, court sessions will be held twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays.
"As many as 30 judges have been appointed to form six panels to trying 16 dossiers," he said.
He added the court was still waiting for the filing of dossiers of intellectual actors behind the chaotic demonstration.
Abdul is believed to have died from a heart attack after hundreds of people, including many students, staged a mass demonstration and launched an attack on the provincial legislature building to demand the immediate formation of an administrative province in Tapanuli. Several others were injured.
The new province, which would cover North Tapanuli, Toba-Samosir, Samosir, Humbang Hasundutan and Fak-Fak had been proposed to help alleviate the poverty along North Sumatra's west coast.
The new province's formation, which enjoyed support from the province's elite figures in the city and Jakarta, was suspended by the central government after the demonstration and because of the ongoing election process.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of the provincial legislative council Hasbullah Hadi said the court was expected to try the case honestly, fairly and transparently.
"The court should stage a honest, balanced and transparent trial without giving any special treatment to certain defendants. Justice must be upheld in the case," he said.
He also said prosecutors should use wisdom in prosecuting the defendants in accordance with their own role in the case.
"We believe the prosecutor's office in the city will not prosecute a certain religion and those demanding the formation of the Tapanuli province. Prosecutors should seek a fair punishment against those involved in the riot, which killed the chief councillor," he said.
Hasbullah also called on people in the province to understand the necessity for the trial, saying it is meant to uphold justice, not for a certain religion, but for those who committed crimes.
He explained that the suspects were being tried for committed crimes that lead to Abdul's death.
"On eve of the trial, the people should understand well and avoid interfering in the trial to uphold justice in the case. They should not be provoked easily by certain sides trying to make the province chaotic," he said.
