Jakarta – A political activist arrested for defaming President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono filed a request Monday for the Constitutional Court to review the defamation article of the Criminal Code.

Pandapotan Lubis, accompanied by a man who was held as a political prisoner during the Soeharto regime, Sri Bintang Pamungkas, argued that the article violated his right to freedom of expression was violated.

Pandapotan is being tried at the Central Jakarta District Court for allegedly defaming the president at a rally at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in May.

"The article is unclear since only those in power have the authority to define defamation," Pandapotan's lawyer, Irma Hattu, said.

Sri Bintang, who served 34 months in prison for defaming former president Soeharto in 1995, said he would testify at the trial.