19-year old activist faces prison term

19-year old activist faces prison term

JAKARTA (JP): The prosecutor trying an office helper of the
unrecognized Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) is
demanding that the defendant be sentenced to two years and six
months imprisonment.

In Friday's trial session at the Central Jakarta District
Court, prosecutor Meity Joseph said the defendant, Danang Kukuh
Wardoyo, 19, was found guilty of assisting AJI activists Eko
Maryadi and Ahmad Taufik, who are also on trial.

She charged that Danang had assisted Eko and Ahmad in sowing
hatred against the government through the distribution and sale
of AJI's unlicensed publication Independen.

Meity said as a member of the younger generation Danang
"should not have followed (those) who are trying to disrupt the
nation's unity and stability".

However, she added that the defendant is still young, has no
criminal record and still hopes to continue his education. This,
she said, was proven by his attending the recent state university
entrance exams under police supervision.

As an AJI staff member since last October, Meity said Danang
also helped Eko Maryadi attend to subscribers of Independen. She
said Danang also took part in selling the magazines to guests at
a reception organized by AJI at the Wisata International Hotel on
March 16, where Danang and the other two AJI defendants were
arrested.

Presiding Judge Soehardjo said the next trial session will
take place tomorrow when Danang's lawyers are scheduled to read
their defense statements. (bas)