Outlaw newsmen to be tried soon

Outlaw newsmen to be tried soon

JAKARTA (JP): Three members of the unrecognized Alliance of
Independent Journalists (AJI) will soon stand trial on charges of
producing, distributing and selling an illegal publication.

The Jakarta Prosecutor's Office announced yesterday it will
submit their dossiers to the Central Jakarta district court by
next week.

"We are working on the final details of the dossiers," M.
Adenan Kasian, assistant for general crimes of the Jakarta
Prosecutor's Office told reporters.

The three suspects, Ahmad Taufik, Eko Maryadi, and Danang,
were caught at the three-star Wisata International Hotel in
Central Jakarta on March 16 after attending an halal bihalal
(Moslem gathering after Idul Fitri) that AJI hosted. Two others
were also arrested at the time but have since been released.

The three AJI members were charged with producing,
distributing and selling copies of Independen newsletters, which
were critical of the government.

Adenan said his office has assigned Limbong T.S. to be the
prosecuting attorney for the case.

Meanwhile Denny Christyanto, a lawyer of the Jakarta chapter
of the Legal Aid Institute representing the journalists, said
yesterday that he has submitted a proposal to the Jakarta
Prosecutor's Office asking that the three defendants, currently
in police custody, be put under house arrest.

It is the second proposal filed by the team of lawyers. The
first one, sent to the City Police on March 28, was rejected.

Denny was received by Limbong, who promised him that the
proposal would be discussed with the head of Jakarta Prosecutor's
Office. (imn)