Detained student activists freed

JAKARTA (JP): Forty-two student activists who were arrested on Wednesday for backing up a demonstration by laid-off workers of cookies producer PT Mayora were released by the West Jakarta District Court on Thursday.

The court's judges decided that the students were not guilty for joining the demonstration at Mayora's head office on Jl. Raya Tomang, West Jakarta, as charged by the police.

"The students just distributed meals to the workers and conducted a free speech forum. It could not be labeled a parade," one of the judges, Sultoni, said.

The police charged the students under Law No. 9/1998 on illegal demonstrations and Article 510 of the Criminal Code on illegal parades.

The law carries no punishment, but Article 510 carries a maximum punishment of two weeks in jail or a fine of up to Rp 2,250 (2 U.S. cents).

Sultoni and two other judges, Bay Mastur and Damansuri Nuntjik, who led the trial in three separate courtrooms, read out the verdict in the absence of the students.

The students grouped under the City Forum (Forkot), who arrived at the court at 2 p.m., left the courtrooms just after the judges opened the session.

"We do not trust the Law on Demonstrations," one of the students shouted before leaving the courtroom. (jun)