Students to face subversion trial

Students to face subversion trial

JAKARTA (JP): Three students arrested on suspicion of inciting
a massive labor strike in July will soon stand trial in Surabaya
on subversion charges.

Chief of the provincial prosecutors office M.A. Rachman said
yesterday that the dossiers on the three suspects are "perfect"
and the trial may begin very soon.

The students facing charges are Dita Indahsari, 24, Coen
Husein Pontoh, 27, and M. Sholeh, 22. They are activists of
several student groups under the umbrella of the Democratic
People's Party (PRD), a little-known organization branded
communist by the government.

PRD chairman Budiman Sudjatmiko, now detained in Jakarta on
charges of masterminding the July 27 riots in Jakarta, is one of
the 35 witnesses called on to testify in the trial, Rachman said.

"The three activists undermined the government. They held an
illegal meeting to discuss change in five political laws,
replacement of the president and raising minimum wage levels," he
was said, reported Antara.

They also discredited the Armed Forces which they portrayed as
the capitalists guards, Rachman said.

The peaceful mass labor strikes on July 8 reportedly involved
thousands of workers from 10 factories in a major industrial
estate in Indonesia's second largest city.

The authorities initially arrested 24 student activists but
have released the rest for lack of evidence.

"The demonstrators not only demanded better welfare for
workers but also demanded political reforms. That is
unacceptable," he said.

Under the Indonesian legal system, subversion is one of the
most serious offenses and carries a maximum penalty of death. The
controversial subversion law allows the detention of a suspect
for up to one year without trial.

Rachman said investigators took a long time handling the case
because they had to thoroughly investigate the suspects
involvement in labor strikes in other areas such as Jakarta,
Bogor, Tangerang, Bekasi and Surakarta.

Separately, chief of the East Java military command Maj. Gen.
Imam Utomo said that PRD means to undermine the New Order
administration (under President Soeharto).

"PRD is wrong, therefore we ban it. How come they demanded the
revocation of political laws, and discredit the government and
the Armed Forces," he said.

Imam said the students were rounded up after the protesting
workers run away.

"The several dozen people left behind turned out to be
students and governmental activists," he said recalling the day
when the authorities forcibly broke up the demonstration. (pan)