Activists accused of sowing hatred<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State prosecutors yesterday accused three
\nactivists of sowing public hatred against the government, by
\ndistributing an unlicensed magazine highly critical of the
\ncurrent administration.<\/p>\n
The three -- Ahmad Taufik, Eko Maryadi and Danang Kukuh
\nWardoyo -- were arraigned at the Central Jakarta District Court
\non charges of distributing the Independen magazine to the public.<\/p>\n
The three were arrested at a post Idul Fitri get-together
\norganized by the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) at the
\nWisata International Hotel in Jakarta last March. Police caught
\nthem giving out copies of the magazine to guests.<\/p>\n
The magazine was produced by AJI, an organization founded last
\nyear by journalists in reaction to the government's ban of three
\nnews magazines -- Tempo, Editor and DeTik -- in June 1994.<\/p>\n
Ahmad and Eko, both former Tempo journalists, are being tried
\ntogether, while Danang's case is being heard separately. All
\nthree were activists of AJI.<\/p>\n
The three men were charged under Article 154 of the Criminal
\nCode which cites sowing hatred and hostility among the public
\nagainst the government. If found guilty, they face a maximum of
\nseven years imprisonment.<\/p>\n
The hearing drew a large crowd, including fellow journalists
\nand noted human rights campaigners, such as Adnan Buyung Nasution
\nand H.J.C. Princen. Former Tempo chief editor Goenawan Mohamad
\nwas also present as was former legislator Sri Bintang Pamungkas.
\nSome embassies also sent representatives to observe the trial.<\/p>\n
After the charges were read, the trial sessions were adjourned
\nto June 27 to allow the defendants and their lawyers to present
\ntheir defense statements.<\/p>\n
Rita Serena Kalibonso, one of the lawyers representing Taufik
\nand Eko, requested that the judges release the defendants from
\nthe police detention center and grant them house arrest status
\ninstead.<\/p>\n
Their families are willing to guarantee that they will not try
\nto escape and that they will appear at trial sessions as required
\nby law.<\/p>\n
She also cited procedural violations in the way the
\ndefendants were arrested in the first place.<\/p>\n
The court previously agreed to a request from the parents of
\nDanang that he be allowed out of jail to register and take the
\nupcoming entrance test for state universities later this month.
\n(imn)<\/p>",
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