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Student on trial for insulting government

Source
Alliance of Independent Journalists News - March 31, 1998

A student went on trial in Bandung on 31 March charged with insulting the government. If found guilty, he faces a sentence of up to seven years under Article 154 of the Criminal Code.

Juandi was arrested when police stopped the car he was travelling in for a routine check up about licences, but then searched the vehicle and found stickers, banners and other material critical of the government. The stickers read: "Suharto must go, it's time for Megawati, Succession now, reform now, Megawati, the new president, I love the rupiah but I keep my savings in dollars".

Following the presentation of the indictment, the defendant will present his demurrer to court on 6 April.

While the session was in progress, seventy friends of the accused held a forum outside the court, reading poetry and saying prayers.

The head of his team of lawyers, Haneda, said that although he would do his best, this was a political trial and he did not expect much. He said the presiding judge had said he was under orders to get the trial over quickly. "It's just a formality, the verdict has already been fixed," the lawyer said.

He also complained that the arrest warrant had expired on 23 March while failure to renew it had been shrugged off as "an administrative error".

When the court session ended, supporters of the defendant sang songs and shouted: "Free Juandi, Long live Juandi". Many students with head-bands saying "Juandi is not guilty", held a protest rally outside, also demanding the release of other pro-democracy activists.

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