Four activists who were arrested on 9 March while taking part in a small demonstration in Jakarta went on trial at the Central Jakarta district court, charged with carrying out political activities.

The four are: Kuldip Singh and Wandy Nicodemus Tuturoon, members of the political reform NGO, PIJAR, Widhi Wahyu, a student activist, and Farah Diba Agustin of the trade union, SBSI.

They are being charged under Law 5/PNPS/1963 which makes it an offence to take part in political activities which are critical of the government. They are accused of taking part in a demonstration in Jakarta on 9 March which called on the government to stop mass layoffs, to lower the prices of basic goods and to release Muchtar Pakpahan, leader of the SBSI.

The indictment said that altogether twenty people took part in the demonstration. They face a maximum penalty of five years.

The accused are assisted by a defence team of lawyers from the PBHI, the Association for Legal Aid and Human Rights, and the TPKB, the team to uphold justice for workers.

The prosecutor also accused them of disturbing public order because the demonstration disrupted the traffic. The next hearing will be held on 8 May.