11 activists jailed for ignoring police order

JAKARTA (JP): Eleven supporters of government critic Megawati Soekarnoputri were sentenced to two months and 23 days for ignoring a police order during a Feb. 11 demonstration.

They were the last group of 157 people tried at South Jakarta District Court on the same charges. Thirty-five people were fined Rp 2,500 and the remaining 122 were sentenced to between two months and 10 days or two months and 23 days.

Separately, four labor activists sympathetic to Muchtar Pakpahan, the jailed leader of the Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI), were indicted at Central Jakarta District Court yesterday for ignoring a police order during a demonstration on March 9 in front of Sarinah department store on Jl. Thamrin.

At the South Jakarta court, Pantas Nainggolan, one of the lawyers representing the 11 defendants, failed in his bid to have the court release the defendants.

"Not a single piece of evidence or testimony has proved that the defendants were guilty of violating any rules as charged," Pantas said.

The only two witnesses testifying in court were police officers so their testimony was predictable, he said.

"Everything was set up and the whole trial is not independent."

However, presiding judge Abu Amin rejected the lawyer's plea and found the defendants guilty of ignoring a police order.

"We have given you a chance to present your witnesses. But you threw away the chance," said Amin, who delivered the verdict without the usual procedure of consulting the other judges.

Amin made the ruling as soon as Pantas had finished his plea.

The defendants will be freed today as they have been detained for two months and 22 days.

The convicts were among 157 members of Barisan Merah Putih (The Red-and-White Front) who were arrested while marching from the Attorney General's Office in Blok M to the Ministry of Manpower on Jl. Gatot Subroto.

Meanwhile, at the Central Jakarta district court, prosecutor Suhardi charged the four defendants -- Kuldip Singh, 26, Farah Diba Agustine, 23, Widhi Wahyu, 21 and Wandy Nicodemus Tuturoong, 26 -- with staging a political activity.

Besides protesting against the price hike, Suhardi said the defendants also called on the government to end corruption, monopolies, and nepotism, and to free Muchtar Pakpahan.

"The demonstration involving about 20 people caused a traffic jam in the area."

He charged the defendants under Article 5 of Law No. 5/1963 on political activities and Article 218 of the Criminal Code on ignoring a police order.

Pakpahan is currently serving a four-year jail term for inciting labor unrest in North Sumatra province in 1994. He is also being tried for subversion in relation to rioting here in July 1996.

Presiding judge I Nyoman Putra adjourned the trial until Friday to hear the defendants' statements. (jun)