123 demonstrators who took part in a 'Red-and-White Brigade' demonstration in Jakarta on 11 February are to be charged under Law No 5/PNPS/1993 regarding involvement in political activities, according to the public affairs officer of the Jakarta police force. The law allows a maximum penalty of five years.

The demonstrators were protesting against the sharp increase in prices.

The police officer said that the cases had been handed over to the public prosecutor for trial.

They are deemed to have been carrying out political activities without seeking prior police permission and moreover, their activities caused public disorder,' he said.

He said he was not sure whether the 123 defendants would be charged under Article 3 or Article 5 of the 1963 law.

Law 5/PNPS/1993 was a presidential decree introduced by Sukarno in 1963 and enacted into law by the New Order in 1969. It defines political activities as activities that can directly or indirectly influence the basic state policy or its implementation.

[Having been introduced under Sukarno, the language used is that of his Guided Democracy. Its stated purpose is to safeguard the basic tenets of the Indonesian Revolution and Sukarno's Political Manifesto introduced in 1960.]

Article 3 states that anyone engaging in political activities such as organising meetings or gatherings or demonstrations is required to inform the police as well as the local National Front at least 72 hours in advance, specifying the objectives and nature of the activities planned. Article 5 relates to political activities involving display material.

The law gives the police powers to disperse, halt and take measures against any political activities which are deemed to be in violation of this law.