Another labor activist jailed

MEDAN, North Sumatra: The Medan state court yesterday sentenced Soniman Lafau, the vice chairman of the Medan chapter of the Indonesian Welfare Labor Union (SBSI), to nine months in jail after convicting him of inciting violence.

Presiding judge Muhamad Kasim said in his verdict that Soniman, 27, was proven guilty of inciting workers to strike and stage protests which led to riots on April 14, Antara reported. One person died in the riots and hundreds of factories were damaged.

The judge said Soniman had distributed circulars which provoked workers to strike.

The circular was signed by the SBSI head, Mochtar Pakpahan, who was sentenced to three years in jail by the same court on Monday.

Asked by the judge whether he will appeal to a higher court, Soniman said he accepted the sentence. (bas)