Jakarta – Hundreds of labourers and university students held a protest here Saturday demanding the release of jailed labour defender Dita Sari as well as of other political prisoners, a witness said.

The call was made by more than 400 labourers and students who turned up at the state University of Indonesia to hold free speeches on Labour Day.

"Labourers unite against oppression," read a large poster, while another called "Release Dita Sari and other political prisoners." Dita Sari is serving time in a Jakarta women's jail since last year after she was moved from a jail in Surabaya, East Java, where she had been convicted for being an active member of an outlawed party and for inciting labour protests there.

Dita is a member of the People's Democratic Party (PRD) which was outlawed by the government of former president Suharto in 1997.

The government of President Habibie, who replaced Suharto, has since lifted the ban. The party is also officially registered as one of the 48 political parties to take part in the upcoming June 7 elections. But the leaders of the PRD and Dita have not been released.

The protesters were members of the Labourers for Reform Actions (Kobar), the Student Committee for a Democratic Society (Komrad), and Students for Reform Forum (Formasi), all of whom read headbans with "May Day" inscribed on them.

May Day was traditionally not celebrated during the 32 year rule of the staunchly anti-communist Suharto, who resigned from office in May last year.

[On May 1, 1995, Dita, who was then the chairperson of the PRD affiliated Centre for Labour Struggle, lead the first May Day commemoration Suharto seized power and was detained for 24 hours - James Balowski.]