THE FALLEN ANGELS (PART 10, Trial By The Press)

By :.E.A Wahyudiono

After coming closer to Mr. Bayu, The Chief of Local Correction Community Biro of Law, I apologise for what I had done that I did not directly pick the accused Mr.Ramli up to the car and take him to the court. “I really understand that you bring him first to see Mr.Lasipar in his isolation cell. It is not necessary to inform me. I know everything related to both men and their problems. Those are beyond our capablity” answered Mr.Bayu calmly.

Again, this situation and Mr.Bayu’s answer makes me confused. I got dizzy to understand their problems without being told what actually happened. Why Mr.Bayu knew and in the other hand I did not. Honestly, I want to ask deeper about both of those men, Ramiel and Lasipar, but I postpone it because I have to go to the court to fulfill trial’s schedule for Mr. Ramli in hurry.

Acommpanied by 2 armed guards and a driver, I arrive on time to the court which is the location not far from the prison in distance. Surprisingly, our car’s coming to the courd’s yard is being welcomed by villagers from the place where the.children’s murder case derived from. Including some Televisoion reporters, Newspaper journalist and also some Policemen whose job keep the order for the people while the trial is being conducted or running.

It seems that all people there angry to Mr. Ramli. They shout and threath him roughly in bad words. “Sentence to death for Ramli!, ..sentence to death for Ramli..!” The crowd yiel noisily. Even, some of them try to come and touch Ramli, but All gurad and Policemen are able protect Ramli enter the court building safely.

I officially report my coming to Administration office in the court by showing my authority’s letter and they put all of us in spare room. The distric attorney and the defendant enter the room and involve in serious conversation which I can not hear because they do not allow anyone including me to interfere the trial.

While waiting their discussion, My eyes stare at a newspaper on the table in front of me. I grab impatiently and read carefully the article about Mr. Ramli and his murder’s case. Many articles are written there. That is covered almost half of the front page of the various newspapers. Based on the evidence found in location and information from the witnesess, they mostly blamed Mr. Ramli as the real criminal and committed guilty for his crime.

This kind of information makes me up set. All Newspaper already conduct their own trial and influence society to agree with their opinion that Mr. Ramli must be guilty without having real and fair trial and the real court. Like or not, sometimes Press put their position as Judges before having trial. This assumption built in articles based on opinion is really dangerous. People who have no experiences will be easily influenced by this kind of news. We call it Trial by The press

Frankly, working in the prison, We never read newspaper, watch television. This rule is not only for us, but also for convicts and other prisoners. We are prohibited to inform everything to them related to the news happening outside of the jail. Handphone, Books, Magazine are also not allowed for prisoners. Anyway, we provide Holy Qur’an for moslem and Bible for Christians. To kill their spare time, we give spare time for prisoners to refresh their mind and body by doing sports like volleyball, basketball, lawn tenis, and exercises under maximum security

The court is already started. I glance at the people who are allowed to follow the series of trial after completing the permittance application proved by the court couple weeks ago. When my eyes goes to the the head of the judge, I feel happy, because I know him very well. His name is Mr. Rachmat Basuki. He is humble, religious, kind, honest, simple and loyal. I know well about him and I do believe that he will lead this court for Mr. Ramli’s trial in fair.

The judge, Mr. Basuki is Javanese and live with his wife in the government house belong to the court while his 2 children are still studying in famous University in Java . His wife suffered from serious iliness. The stroke attacked his wife while few months coming to Central Sulawesi as his promotion like me. So, that is why, his wife, now, is not able to walk and becomes paralyzed on her legs and spend her activities on wheel chair at home. I am very sad to know that.

To be continued