State wants trial of NII members

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administration, and was therefore out of date.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)