Bintang promises to fight on from behind bars<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Rebel politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas vowed
\nyesterday that he would continue to lead the struggle of his
\nIndonesian Democratic Union Party (PUDI) if he goes to jail.<\/p>\n
\"My arrest could not suppress PUDI's activities,\" Bintang told
\nreporters. \"On the contrary, it has made PUDI internationally
\nknown,\" he said after attending the Friday noon prayer at the
\nAttorney General's Office, where he is currently being detained.<\/p>\n
In spite being heavily escorted on the way back to his cell,
\nBintang managed to answer some questions to reporters who had
\nwaited for him all day.<\/p>\n
Bintang and two other PUDI leaders -- Julius Usman and Saleh
\nAbdullah -- are currently under investigation in connection with
\nPUDI's activities, which the government described as subversive.<\/p>\n
One of the activities that the government found offensive was
\nsending Idul Fitri cards in which he laid out PUDI's three main
\nagendas: boycott the 1997 election, reject President Soeharto's
\nreelection and prepare for a post-Soeharto era after 1998. The
\ncards were sent to many officials, including Vice President Try
\nSutrisno.<\/p>\n
Bintang said that other people had also made such cards.<\/p>\n
\"I can show you many Idul Fitri cards similar to the ones I
\nmade.\"<\/p>\n
\"This is a conspiracy to throw me in jail,\" he said, without
\nelaborating.<\/p>\n
The former legislator for the United Development Party (PPP)
\nis already facing a 34-month jail term meted out last year by the
\nCentral Jakarta District Court for insulting President Soeharto.
\nHe has remained a free man pending his appeal in the Supreme
\nCourt.<\/p>\n
The latest charge against him, subversion, carries the maximum
\npenalty of death.<\/p>\n
Bintang's wife Ernalia told reporters at the Indonesian Legal
\nAid Foundation (YLBHI) that from the beginning, the entire family
\n-- the couple has six children -- has been prepared to face the
\nconsequences of his actions.<\/p>\n
Ernalia has been visiting Bintang at the detention center
\neveryday since he was arrested Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that what we've done was not in vain and that it
\nencourages people to struggle to correct the government,\" Ernalia
\nsaid, quoting her husband.<\/p>\n
Human rights groups have criticized Bintang's arrest, saying
\nthat he should not be prosecuted for having different political
\nviews.<\/p>\n
Six lawyers, led by Frans Hendra Winarta of YLBHI, accompanied
\nBintang and two other activists during the interrogation at the
\nAttorney General's Office.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, 10 activists representing four Moslem organizations
\nsubmitted a statement supporting the Attorney General's Office in
\ninvestigating Bintang and the other two PUDI activists, Antara
\nreported.<\/p>\n
The groups -- Indonesian Moslem Young Generation, Indonesian
\nMoslem Youths, Youths for the Council for Islamic Propagation and
\nthe Special Task Force of the Communication Forum for Islamic
\nOrganizations -- said that the authorities should prosecute those
\nwho intend to undermine national stability. (05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bintang-promises-to-fight-on-from-behind-bars-1447893297",
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