Jakarta – Three student activists were tried in court on Monday for public disorder following a rally near the residence of President Megawati Soekarnoputri in January.

Prosecutor M. Manik told the Central Jakarta District Court that defendants Rico Marbun, Fathul Nugroho and Ardi Purnawan Sani of the University of Indonesia (UI) had broken the law as they had failed to inform the police of the rally before it took place and that they had refused to obey former Central Jakarta District Police chief Sr. Comr. Edmond Ilyas, who ordered them to leave the area.

The rally turned ugly after the students refused to disperse, and resulted in the arrest of several demonstrators. The defendants could face up to four months and two weeks in jail if they are convicted of the charges.

The hearing was attended by some 100 UI students, economist Rizal Ramli, the chairman of the Indonesia Uni-Democrat Party (PUDI), Sri Bintang Pamungkas and Fuad Bawazier, a member of the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Rico is the leader of the university's Student Executive Body (BEM). The student body often conducts rallies against Megawatiand the government.

Last year, two activists were convicted of public mischief by stomping on the pictures of Megawati and Vice President Hamzah Haz during a rally in Jakarta. A student activist in Aceh was also convicted for defacing the pictures of Megawati and Hamzah by drawing crosses across their faces early this year.