Labor activist gets 15 months

Labor activist gets 15 months

MEDAN, North Sumatra: The district court here sentenced labor
activist Amosi Telaumbanua to 15 months in jail yesterday for
inciting workers to strike in April.

Amosi, 34 year-old chairman of the Medan chapter of the
independent Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI), was "convicted of
inciting workers to go on strike," judge Bahauddin Qaudri said
when reading the verdict. SBSI's top leader Mochtar Pakpahan was
also being tried on similar charges.

Last week, the prosecutor demanded that Amosi be sentenced to
18 months in jail, Antara reported.

The judge said that Amosi distributed leaflets encouraging
workers in Medan to go on strike to demand that their daily wages
be increased from Rp 3,100 (US$1.5).

The April demonstrations turned into violence as workers
attacked factories and set vehicles ablaze. One businessman was
killed in the incidents. (pan)