132 protesters tried for joining demonstration

132 protesters tried for joining demonstration

JAKARTA (JP): One hundred and thirty-two people allegedly
involved in a protest over soaring prices Wednesday, were
indicted during a mass trial at Jakarta Police Headquarters
yesterday.

They were among 157 people apprehended by police when a group
marched from the Attorney General's Office in the Blok M business
district to the Ministry of Manpower office on Jl. Gatot Subroto.
The protest caused heavy traffic congestion along major streets
in South Jakarta.

Police sent 152 people to trial and detained the remaining
five for further questioning as their activities were believed to
have a close link to a certain political cause.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang identified the
suspects as Sandra, Fatiya, SN, PT and FR.

Of the 152 defendants, 20 were released by presiding judge
Djazuli of South Jakarta District Court as they were underage,
but he instructed them to attend police headquarters today for a
closed court session.

The first three defendants were placed on a two-month good
behavior bond but if they break any conditions of the bond they
must serve one week in jail. As of 9:30 p.m. last night, the
indictment of the remaining suspects was continuing.

All the defendants were tried for disturbing public order by
joining the illegal street rally. They were charged under Article
510 of the Criminal Code which carries a maximum penalty of two
weeks in jail or a maximum fine of Rp 2,250.

There was no need for prosecutors at the trial, instead a
judge read from police dossiers and the presiding judge dealt
with the minor criminal charges.

"The defendants could deny the charge but the judge must
decide whether they are guilty or not," Djazuli said.

At least 15 lawyers from the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) and
Megawati's team of defense lawyers represented the defendants.

But some of the defendants denied joining the demonstration.

Two women, Lilis Rodiah, 38, and Munah, 32, both denied their
involvement in the demonstration, saying they were eating baso
(meat balls) at a bus shelter on Jl. Gatot Subroto near the
Ministry of Manpower office when police officers apprehended
them.

But five police officers, who gave evidence from the witness
box, said the women were among the protesters.

"They lied," Munah, a housewife of Jl. Menceng in Cengkareng,
West Jakarta, answered when the judge asked her about the
officers' statements.

Munah had her three-year-old child with her when she was
arrested and kept overnight at police headquarters until the
trial yesterday. Lilis, a resident of Kalideres, West Jakarta, is
one of Munah's relatives.

When lawyers asked the officers whether Munah was carrying her
child during the protest, none of the officers could answer.

"It's highly unlikely Munah joined the demonstration Your
Honor," he said, saying that the arrest of the woman and her
child was inhumane.

The defendants who joined the demonstration were believed to
be supporters of the ousted leader of Indonesian Democratic Party
(PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri. (jun)