SBSI treasurer jailed

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Hayati, the treasurer of the city branch of the Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI), was sentenced to seven months imprisonment on Thursday for helping plan a workers demonstration last April.

The Medan District Court found the defendant guilty of helping organize the demonstration, which not only caused public disorder, but also public unrest, reported Antara news agency.

The workers' march in April turned into a full scale riot that left one businessman dead and dozens of factories damaged.

The defendant is also registered as a worker of PT Tani, a company in Medan whose 350 workers joined in the march.

A number of other SBSI leaders, including its chairman Muchtar Pakpahan, are also being tried in Medan in connection with the riot. (emb)