Helicopters,

Men grunting

01.00.00

soldiers running,

marching, map, police and protesters fighting, soldiers watching

Maher:  In Indonesia nothing is feared more than instability.  But scenes like these are becoming more common. 

After three decades of military backed rule large cracks are beginning to appear in the new order regime.  But as with many things here first appearances can deceive. 

This isn't a riot at all.  It's a police training exercise for the election campaign.

00.53

And like the election itself, the uniformed men in charge are making sure nothing is left to chance.  Least of all the outcome.

Men dancing, clapping, women

Men singing, Music and singing

singing at mic,

men playing music, women getting off airplane, Tutut shaking hands

Maher:  This is the ruling Golkar Party's star campaigner.  Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana or Tutut is a tycoon - with a vast business empire. 

01.16

She also happens to be President Soeharto's eldest daughter.  Like the rest of the first family she is treated like royalty.

Crowds yelling

Crowd sounds

with arms in air

Tutut speaking, audience watching, Maher with Tutut

Despite accusations of corruption, collusion and nepotism, Golkar's leaders show no sign of being under any pressure.  After all, these people can afford to be confident - they know they're going to win.

01.58

Interviewer Michael Maher

Maher:  Hello I'm Michael Maher from the ABC, can we do an interview with you?

Maher:  If you do get an interview with the president's daughter, don't expect to be alone.

Intv with Tutut

Tutut:  Our national target is 70.02%.  We can achieve that target with the support of the Indonesian people because We, Golkar are doing everything for the people.

02.24

Two people watching, Tutut being interviewed

Maher:  Could we be looking at the prospect of a Soeharto dynasty?

02.51

Tutut:  There is no Soeharto dynasty.  Everything is according to the system in Indonesia.  If it is said to be a Soeharto dynasty that is a big mistake.

Maher:  Despite being surrounded by local journalists not one asked a question.  But it wasn't for lack of interest.

Traffic and papersellers in street, front page of paper

Next day, the Soeharto dynasty story was front page news across Indonesia.  What to a foreign journalist appeared a harmless inquiry was for the bridled local press a question deemed too tough and too risky to ask.

Night shots, Maher to camera

Super:

MICHAEL MAHER

Michael Maher to camera:  Most people here don't ask their political leaders tough questions.  They are simply too afraid to directly challenge the government and with good reason.

03.26

Those who do run the risk of having the full weight of the country's security forces come crashing down upon them - often with dire consequences.  Take the case of the young activist Budiman Sudjatmiko.

People on

Singing

03.52

motorbikes, people

marching

Maher:  I first met Budiman a year ago in the lead up to the Jakarta riots.  He and his fellow activists from the People's Democratic Party, along with thousands of others - were showing their support for pro-democracy leader Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Budiman was quick to impress.

Budiman walking into room, talking with people

Fearless and bright, he appeared to have the makings of a future political leader.

04.20

Budiman argued that too many people had been marginalised under Soeharto's rule and that the country was in urgent need of political reform.

Using their networks among workers, farmers and students, Budiman's PRD sought radical change and was prepared to go out on a precarious limb to achieve it.

Close up, man speaking

Man:  At the moment the main priority is to mobilise the masses.

04.46

Megawati at mic

Crowd chanting

crowd

Maher:  In the wake of the riots, Megawati's popularity and international profile saved her from prosecution.  But the authorities had no concerns about turning on the little known and left wing PRD. 

04.58

Budiman Sudjatmiko was arrested and charged with subversion.

Maher speaking to Budiman in jail, supporters and Budiman walking along to court

Several weeks ago as his trial drew to an end I met Budiman again - this time behind the bars of a court holding cell.

with red scarves

Budiman Sudjatmiko:  There are some of my friends that have been tortured by electricity, they beat our friends in Surabaya and Jakarta, but especially for me, they just are intimidating me.

05.26

Maher:  In the face of a possible death penalty, these young men have remained defiant to the last.  They are the storm troopers of Indonesian activism.

Prisoners in red scarves

Every chance they get to preach their message is grasped - even as they're led away to face their judges.

05.57

Voices:  Boycott the elections, boycott the elections.

Judge entering courtroom, sitting, people in courtroom, Budiman speaks

Maher:  The court that Budiman appears before is far from independent.  These judges are under intense political pressure and it's rare for them not to bend.  Like the national elections the outcome of Budiman's trial is a foregone conclusion.

This is the final day of the hearings.  Budiman tells the judges he won't be entering a plea.  He declares their court to be unjust.

06.52

Instead he says, he'll read a statement.  There is an adjournment as the court decides.

Budiman's mother and father watch

Budiman's mother and father watch their son's daring performance from the public gallery.  They both support his stand and have suffered as a consequence.

07.10

The military accused Budiman's father of being a communist - ignoring the fact that he's a devout Muslim.

Intv with Budiman's father

Budiman's father:  Deep in my heart I believe that Budiman is doing the right thing - he is defending the small people that's my belief.  Not everyone who is helping small people is a communist.

Maher:  Eventually Budiman returns to court having won agreement to read his statement.  With a flourish he dismisses his lawyers.

07.43

Budiman reacting to gallery, gets

Budiman:  I will face this regime directly, by myself.

up hugs lawyers,

gallery watches, Budiman reads statement

Maher:  As foreign Diplomats, journalists and supporters look on, Budiman begins to read from a carefully prepared text, making full use of what may be the last public platform he has.

Judge:  Face me not the court.

Audience jeer

Maher:  It's not long before this natural politician is in full rhetorical flight.  The gallery is impressed, the judge is clearly not.

08.27

Gallery chanting, Judge speaking, wide shot of

People in gallery:  Boycott the elections, democracy or death.

courtroom, Judge,

audience, prosecution

Judge:  Whoever said that will be dealt with.

Maher:  Over four hours Budiman presents a stinging critique of the Soeharto regime.  On the bench the judges struggle to stay awake.  The packed courtroom is anything but bored.

08.53

Applause

Maher:  By the end only the judges and prosecution remain unmoved.

Prosecution Lawyer

Prosecution:  I see no relevance in what Budiman says.  I stay with our demand for a 15 year jail sentence.

Judge, widens out

Crowd jeers

to include Budiman

yelling, walking out, audience

Budiman:  Long live democracy.

follows

Maher: Budiman is led back to prison.

09.26

Maher:  The verdict and sentencing will take place in one week's time.

Maher interviews Budiman

Maher:  Budiman, how do you feel about the prospect of spending maybe more than 10 years, maybe 15 years in jail?

Interview Budiman:

Budiman:  Yeah, we are still believing that we could lead the party from the prison.  I think still we could communicate with the other people, the members of PRD through letters, something like that. 

We look forward to the international solidarity from the Australian community also, yeah, to put the pressure on this government.

10.00

Young man in crowd yelling

Man:  We are normal people, we have nothing.  Why are you treating us like this?  We are students - when we demonstrate, we have to face the military.

Military police, Budiman through window with supporters, singing

Maher:  The day of the verdict has arrived.  Budiman and the other activists are taken back to court.  They've been in custody for nearly a year but their spirits haven't fallen.

10.30

Singing:  We shall overcome, we shall overcome, we shall overcome some day ...

Budiman led up stairs by military

Budiman:  I'm ready for the worst.

Budiman in court

holding up flowers, presents them to judge and others

Budiman:  I'm prepared for the worst - prepared for the death penalty.  Boycott the elections.

Judge, Budiman yells, gets up and walks out, he is brought back by guards, judge speaks

Maher:  Once again Budiman tells the judges he has no faith in their justice.  What is more he says he doesn't care what the verdict they hand down and announces he's leaving the court.

11.35

Judge:  You don't have to stay and listen to the court, but you must respect the Indonesian system.

Budiman taken out of court, crowds press in, Budiman yells at guards

Maher:  Within the crush, Budiman's mother and father attempt to embrace their son.  His mother is distraught, crying out as Budiman is led away.

12.15

Budiman:  Don't cry, mother, don't cry.  Don't push her.  This is my mother - don't you remember how your mother carried you for nine months? Don't push her, I'm not afraid of you.

Men marching and

Singing

12.56

singing, police

walk, skirmishes, arrests

Maher:  On the streets outside protesters gather.  So do the police.  Then plain clothes agents from state intelligence known to everyone here as Intel, move in.

Man:  I'm a journalist, I'm a journalist.

Maher:  Their target is not just eh protesters, journalists are also subjected to their thuggery.  Even the foreign media is not exempt.

Line of police with shields, protesters singing

In his absence Budiman was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Budiman coming out

of building with

Singing

13.44

police guards

Budiman:  Prison will not make us repent.

Budiman climbs on top of van.

Maher:  As he was taken to jail, Budiman seized every last opportunity to address his supporters.

Budiman speaking through bars in police van, other

Budiman:  Soeharto will reap his just reward.

man put in van, van drives away

Budiman:  The world is watching.

Maher:  And so ended Budiman's day in court.

14.40

Motorbikes on streets, people with green banners, people riding on truck, marching

It's not just radicals who rail against rampant corruption and repression, it's the mainstream.

14.47

These people belong to the Muslim based PPP - it's a state sanctioned party.  But with the banning of Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party, it's served as a defacto opposition during the current elections.

Although part of the elaborate facade of Indonesian democracy, these people also feel that they've been marginalised and they're angry about it.

15.13

Young man:  The development funds have been corrupted by the high officials for their own benefit. 

15.24

Interview with young man

The small people cannot accept that.  And only the PPP is the one that is based on Islam.  So we have to support the PPP.

Crowds, police, kids throwing rocks, fires on the street, water truck, police, tank with soldiers, slow motion of Budiman with mother

Maher:  But the military now claims Budiman's PRD is responsible for these outbursts.  They steadfastly refuse to acknowledge that by muzzling political debate, not only have they angered radicals but also the mainstream.

The dissatisfaction felt by many Indonesians hasn't been so deep since the beginning of Soeharto's rule. 

15.59

Meanwhile a young man begins his long prison term.  Budiman is 27 years old.  He'll be 40 before he can again walk free on Jakarta's streets.

ENDS

16.39