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)