Trial of SIRA chairman begins

Trial of SIRA chairman begins

JAKARTA: The trial of the leader of Aceh Referendum
Information Center (SIRA) commenced on Monday at the Central
Jakarta District Court.

The defendant Faisal bin Saifuddin was charged with violating
Article 154 of the Criminal Code for inciting protests against
the Indonesian government. The article carries a maximum penalty
of seven years imprisonment.

Prosecutor Salsen Saragih said that Faisal had allegedly
committed the crime during a protest by SIRA outside the United
Nations building on Jl. M.H. Thamrin last year.

"At that time, the defendant called Indonesia neocolonialist,"
he told the court, presided over by Judge Iskandar Tjake.

Some 50 supporters of SIRA attended the hearing. They prayed
and carried Faisal while entering the court room.

The court will resume next week to hear the defense from the
defendant's lawyer.

Faisal has been detained at the Jakarta Police Headquarters in
Central Jakarta since Aug. 2.--JP