State wants trial of NII members

JAKARTA (JP): State prosecutor Azwar Safirin urged the South Jakarta District Court Wednesday to try three members of an obscure organization called the Indonesian Islamic State (NII).

Azwar has charged the three men -- two from Bogor and another from South Jakarta -- with sowing public hatred against the government.

If found guilty, they face a maximum seven years imprisonment.

He urged Judge Tirafiah Harahap to ignore the defense lawyers' appeal for acquittal, saying their arguments were groundless.

According to the indictment, NII is striving to establish an Islamic state in Indonesia.

The lawyers have said they could not recall any instance of the government declaring the NII an illegal organization.

They also argued that Article 154 with which their clients are being charged was enacted during the Dutch colonial administration, and was therefore out of date.

The trial was adjourned. Judge Tirafiah will decide on Feb. 19 whether or not to try the case. (13)