PRD activists get six and four year sentence
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)