PRD activists get six and four year sentence

SURABAYA (JP): A district court here sentenced youth activists Dita Indahsari and Coen Husein Pontoh yesterday to six and four years of imprisonment respectively for subversion.

The panel of judges, presided over by Amrin D. Boer, said that Dita and Pontoh from the Democratic People's Party (PRD) were guilty of sowing public hatred against the government.

Their hatred campaign among workers peaked in a labor strike by some 10,000 workers from 10 factories in the industrial area of Tandes on July 7 last year, Amrin said.

The sentences were two years shorter than prosecutor Septinus Hematang had sought for each of the defendants. Subversion carries a maximum penalty of death.

Both Dita and Pontoh rejected the court ruling and will appeal.

"This court is rigged. I reject the verdict," Dita screamed.

"This courtroom has just staged a political farce," Pontoh added.

Yesterday's session was marred by a scuffle between security officers and supporters protesting the verdict. At least four people were arrested following the clash.

Wearing red headbands inscribed with the slogan, "Democracy or Death", the two defendants looked calm when the judges read their 90-minute verdict in the packed courtroom. Thousands of people turned out for the hearing.

The judges said the defendants were guilty of holding meetings with workers. They were also guilty of distributing posters demanding a salary rise, and the abolishment of military intervention in labor affairs, the Armed Forces' dual role and the five political laws passed in 1985.

"All of their ideas are against the government's policies," Amrin said. "Their activities have jeopardized national integrity and stability."

Adnan Buyung Nasution, who led the legal defense team, said "the country's power structure which ignores justice had influenced the judges' verdict".

"How can people who hold peaceful demonstrations be charged with subversion?" he asked.

After the court session, activists of the Cipayung religious student group distributed leaflets expressing their concern of the prosecution.

"The verdict is a good example of the government's restriction of people's creativity... It is impossible for students to subvert the state," the statement, signed by chairmen of five student groups, said.

The trial of another nine PRD members and a trade union leader are underway in the Central Jakarta and South Jakarta district courts. Prosecutors demanded sentences of between eight and 15 years.

The activists were arrested for their involvement in riots in Jakarta after a forceful takeover of the Indonesian Democracy Party's (PDI) headquarters on July 27 last year. (nur/amd)