Another labor activist jailed

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)