SIRA chairman stands trial over sedition charges

Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

The trial of Muhammad Nazar, leader of the Aceh Referendum Information Center (SIRA) who stands charged with sowing hatred against the government, began on Thursday at Banda Aceh District Court.

"The defendant incited the public to carry out actions that violated the law," chief prosecutor Muhammad Masril told the hearing.

If convicted, Nazar could face a maximum sentence of seven years in jail. He has been in police custody since February.

Several SIRA activists attended the first hearing, which was presided over by Judge Sabirin Jannah and tightly guarded by security personnel.

The prosecutors said Nazar had given inciting speeches before a crowd of at least 1,500 people in Panton Labu and Tanah Luas districts, both in northern Aceh, in January.

In the indictment, prosecutors quoted Nazar from his speeches as stating: "Acehnese have to unite to support GAM", "If the Joint Security Committee passes by, we should yell out 'Freedom' to them", "No Acehnese women should establish relations with the Indonesian Military or police", "Village chiefs should have no contact with the RI government."

The indictment, which was read out by prosecutor Muhammad, concluded that Nazar's speeches incited hatred toward the government and as a consequence Nazar should be sent to prison.

The trial was adjourned until April 21 to allow Nazar's lawyers to present their defense.

Nazar's lawyers have submitted a written protest to the detention procedure of Nazar, who is being detained at Banda Aceh Police Headquarters.

"After being detained at the prosecutor's office, he should have been sent to Keudah Penitentiary in Banda Aceh," said Abdurrahman Yacob, one of Nazar's lawyers.

"The rules at the police jail and those at Keudah Penitentiary are different. At the police jail, my client has been denied any contact with the outside world," he continued.

Abdurrahman also questioned the motives behind Nazar's arrest. "I think there is a political motive behind it because initially when he was arrested, he was accused of violating Law No.9/1998 on staging rallies without a police permit. But later, he was charged under Article 154 and 160 of the Criminal Code. It is questionable," he said.

Muhammad Nazar was arrested on Feb. 12 at his house in Kuta Alam, Banda Aceh, after giving several speeches on request.

In March 2001, Nazar was jailed for 10 months for sedition after seeking a vote on self-rule. He had been arrested in November 2000 after his information center organized pro- referendum rallies in Jakarta.

SIRA has campaigned peacefully for a referendum on independence for the province, located on the tip of Sumatra island.

The group also organized a peaceful rally that attracted hundreds of thousands of people in the provincial capital Banda Aceh in 1999.