Published at http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-581819 and http://www.peacenext.org/profiles/blogs/urgently-need-support
Tuesday/March 29, 2011 Anand Krishna has been on hunger strike for 21 days (3 weeks). After his arbitrary arrest by the Team of Judges. In my opinion, the arrest of the inter-religious spiritual activist violates Indonesian Weltanschauung: Pancasila (5 basic principles). Especially, the second principle: Just and Civilized Humanity.
From humanity point of view, we all know that the man who was born 54 years ago was diagnosed with leukemia (blood cancer) in 1991. His doctor predicted that his life expectancy was only 3 months. Now he also suffers from a heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
The medical records can prove the facts mentioned above. However, the Team of Judges enacted the arrest unexpectedly. Allegedly, there could be some pressure from other parties which results in an unfair trial.
From justice point of view, I’d like to quote Adnan Buyung Nasution, a senior lawyer and famous human right activist from Indonesia, “I have been practicing my occupation in the field of laws for 50 years. This is the first time I saw something like this: a judge who had already accused somebody guilty before he delivered the official verdict of the court,” said Adnan Buyung after he visited Anand Krishna at the Police Hospital, in Kramat Jati, Jakarta, Thursday (24/3/2011).
Buyung added that the judge’s action is incautious and violates the Criminal Code Procedures article 158 and judge’s code of ethic about independence and impartiality.
“Try to imagine, the case is pending; only 9 of the 25 witnesses have been cross-examined, we still have to hear the prosecutors’ demand, we have not heard the defendant’s plea, and there is not yet the court’s verdict. It means there is not enough evidence that he (Anand Krishna) is guilty,” explained Buyung.
The last one from the point of view of civilization is that human beings are endowed with conscience. This conscience is sometimes obscured by the noise of political (read: power) and economic (read: money) interests.
In this context, Mahatma Gandhi’s appeal has found its relevance in this 21st century, “When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Remember it - always."
This article was translated by Sister Sylvia who is working in Belgium now. Many thanks Sister.
I kindly request your support for the release of Anand Krishna. Now it’s the 21th (3rd week) no single grain on rice entered the stomach of the productive author of 140 books. You can read his article at http://www.aumkar.org/eng/
