Activists face heavy sentences<\/p>\n
SURABAYA, East Java: Prosecutors demanded eight years and six
\nyears imprisonment for two local members of the unrecognized
\nDemocratic People's Party (PRD) for alleged subversion.<\/p>\n
Dita Indah Sari, 23, and Koen Hosein Pontoh, 27, have been
\ncharged with attempting to subvert the state and topple the
\ngovernment through their activities in Jakarta, Surabaya and
\nother cities.<\/p>\n
In Tuesday's session presided by chief judge Amrin D. Boer,
\nthe prosecution said the two had disturbed national unity and
\nadversely affected national stability, productivity and foreign
\nexchange income.<\/p>\n
"It has been proven that they violated the Subversion Law,"
\nthe prosecution was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
Dita and Pontoh said they were not scared of the prosecution's
\ndemands and vowed to fight on for their cause.<\/p>\n
"I am not afraid, even if I have to live the rest of my life
\nbehind bars. I will not stop here, I will continue to fight for
\nthe interest of workers," Pontoh was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
The trial, along with the trial of M. Soleh, a fellow
\nactivist, has been dubbed one of the biggest political trials
\never in Surabaya. Hundreds of police guarded the first sessions
\nof the trial.<\/p>\n
Dita heads the Center for Indonesian Workers Struggle, Pontoh
\nis the coordinator of the National Farmers Association and Soleh
\nis an executive of the Indonesian Students Solidarity for
\nDemocracy.<\/p>\n
The prosecution said that all three organizations were under
\nthe umbrella of the PRD. The PRD's leaders are being tried for
\nsubversion in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Dita, Pontoh and Soleh had sought to repeal five laws on
\npolitics and the 1963 Subversion Law, under which they are now
\nbeing tried.<\/p>\n
The three also face lesser charges, like sowing enmity and
\nhatred against the government.<\/p>\n
They were arrested early in July after organizing two workers'
\nrallies, each involving about 10,000 people from 10 factories at
\nthe Tandes industrial estate in southern Surabaya.<\/p>\n
The rallies, which called for minimum wages in Surabaya to be
\nraised from Rp 5,200 to Rp 7,000, ended violently when the
\nmilitary broke them up. While no deaths were reported, Dita,
\nPontoh and others at the rally were injured. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/activists-face-heavy-sentences-1447893297",
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