Jakarta — 21.07.2010 The Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday heard testimony from a Buddhist who had given his stamp of approval to the Buddha Bar.
The venue has long been the target of protests by millions of Buddhists since it opened in Central Jakarta two years ago. They object to the bar’s use of the religious figure’s name and likeness throughout the premises.
Budiman Sudharma told the court he had provided signed recommendations so that the bar could be established in the city, based on his personal considerations as a Buddhist, as well as in accordance with his authority in at least three separate Buddhist organizations.
The civil case, instigated by Buddhist community members grouped under the Anti-Buddha Bar Forum (FABB), seeks to shut down the nightclub, the only Asian branch of the famous French chain.
The case is against PT Nireta Vista Creative, the bar’s operator, Governor Fauzi Bowo and the Jakarta Tourism Office.
The defendants are accused of blasphemy and of violating a string of regulations that require businesses to consider local religious values.
The operators have argued that they opened Buddha Bar based on recommendations provided by Budiman, who signed his name on behalf of Buddhist organizations.
“His so-called organizations only have at most, 30 members. This is nothing compared to Walubi [The Indonesian Buddhist Council], which has more than three million members. The Walubi is against Buddha Bar,” said Sugianto Sulaiman, a legal representative for the FABB.
Kurnia Girsang, a lawyer for Nireta Vista Creative, explained that Budiman was previously active in Walubi but left because he was also active in other organizations, not because he was expelled .
“He is the chairman of the Buddhist Communication Forum of Jakarta [FKUB], he was also a secretary of the Gema Budhi [Indonesian Buddhist Youths], and he was secretary general of the Mahayana Buddhism Assembly of Indonesia,” Kurnia said of Budiman.
He added that the size of the organizations Budiman was part of had no bearing on the case.
“Even if Budiman’s organizations are a minority, they aren’t inferior to larger organizations such as Walubi,” he said.
Budiman had to be escorted out of the courthouse by security guards and police reserves on Wednesday.
Members from the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) and Red and White Troops (Laskar Merah Putih) taunted Budiman, shouting that he should be hanged and that he was hell’s envoy.
The two mass organizations and dozens of their members had been present at the last three hearings of the case, and were eager to put pressure on the court and those from the Buddha Bar side.
Last week, Budiman arrived late to the courthouse. The crowd grew impatient and demanded presiding judge FX Jiwo Santoso to start the hearing.
The judge told the plaintiffs to “control their supporters” or he would discontinue the trial.
Source: The Jakarta Globe
