Two tried for insulting Megawati

Two tried for insulting Megawati

JAKARTA: The fate of two demonstrators charged with insulting
the President and Vice President by stomping on their pictures
during a protest, is expected to be announced by the Central
Jakarta District Court on Thursday.

Chief prosecutor Luhut Sianturi has earlier asked the court to
sentence Muzakkir, alias Aceh, and Nanang Mamija, alias Junet, to
18 months in jail for their actions outside the State Palace on
June 24.

The defendants were participating in a peaceful rally held by
the Populist Youth Movement (GPK) and the National Farmers
Federation (STN), demanding the dismissal of President Megawati
Soekarnoputri and Vice President Hamzah Haz.

At the end of the rally, Muzakkir and Nanang allegedly stomped
on posters of Megawati and Hamzah and poured rotten food on the
damaged pictures.

The defendants, who have been detained since June 30 and July
1 respectively, were charged under Article 134 of the Criminal
Code on insults against the president or vice president. The
charges carry a maximum penalty of six years in prison. --JP