JAKARTA, Aug. 22 Kyodo sum of two...

JAKARTA, Aug. 22 Kyodo

sum of two units Indonesian men have been enjoin on trial for allegedly defaming President Megawati Sukarnoputri and Vice President Hamzah Haz by dint of stamping on their images during a rally sum of two units months ago, an English-language daily said Thursday.

It marks the first time since former President Suharto cruel from power in 1998 for protester to be prosecut for engaging in acts of defiling the president's image.

in subordination to the Suharto regime, many protester were tried for similar offense and convicted.

The Jakarta situation reported that Muzakkir, a 21-year-old unemploy man, and Nanang Mamija, 20-year-old road vendor, went on trial Wednesday, following their arrests in succession June 30 and July 1 respectively.

According to the indictment, in a peaceful rally with 20 other demonstrators in face of the State Palace onward June 24, Muzakkir and Nanang carried bills in which the faces of Megawati and Hamzah were christian doctrineed out with red ink.

After that, they allegedly stomped onward the posters and poured putrescent food on the images.

State prosecutors said the defendants violated an article in the country's Criminal digest banning defamation of the president or vice president, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of six years in prison.

The defendants' lawyer Hendardi said the now passing government should no longer use the articles because they ''should be ancient in the post-Suharto era.''

He has received support from a number of political adroits who have accused Megawati of reverting back to the meanss Suharto's administration used, particularly to stifle expression of dissenting views.

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