Arrested students freed in Bogor

JAKARTA (JP): Four students, who were arrested Saturday for distributing copies of a speech by ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party Megawati Soekarnoputri in Bogor, were released yesterday.

A lawyer from Ampera Legal Aid Institute, Maradang Hasoloan Sinaga, said that the four -- members of the People's Democratic Alliance (Aldera) -- were arrested Saturday when they protested and distributed copies of the speech at Pasar Anyar together with 26 other students.

He said police chased the students, who waved a banner stating: "We are Megawati's success team, Aldera Bogor", through Pasar Anyar.

The four students were identified as Herlan Antono, Wahyu and Robert from Pakuan University and Abdi from Gunadarma University.

Maradang said his clients could be charged under Article 154 of the Criminal Code which carries a maximum penalty of six years in jail.

Aldera and Indonesian Solidarity for Amien Rais and Mega (Siaga) activists are to lodge a complaint with the National Commission of Human Rights today about the arrest and disappearance of Aldera's leader, Pius Lustrilanang, he said.

Pius reportedly disappeared Wednesday after paying a visit to his friend's mother at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta. (ind)