Budiman, Xanana urge release of all political prisoners<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Sixteen political prisoners, including the
\nleader of the outlawed Democratic People's Party (PRD) Budiman
\nSudjatmiko and East Timorese rebel leader Jose Alexandre \"Xanana\"
\nGusmao, have demanded that the government unconditionally release
\nall political prisoners in the country.<\/p>\n
\"Abolish conditions for the release of political prisoners
\nbecause they are discriminatory,\" the prisoners, who are all
\nincarcerated in Cipinang prison, East Jakarta, said on Saturday
\nin response to the release of 50 political prisoners announced by
\nthe government on Friday.<\/p>\n
In a statement made available to The Jakarta Post, they said
\ntrue reform could only begin if the government released all
\npolitical detainees unconditionally and without exception.<\/p>\n
\"There can be no true reform without national reconciliation
\nand there can be no national reconciliation without the release
\nof all political prisoners,\" they said.<\/p>\n
The government has said that those convicted of criminal
\noffenses, involvement with the banned Indonesian Communist Party,
\nor attempting to subvert the state ideology Pancasila would not
\nbe released.<\/p>\n
The government has so far pardoned 73 of an estimated 200
\npolitical prisoners since President B.J. Habibie came to power in
\nMay after the fall of Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Minister of Justice Muladi said on Friday that more political
\nprisoners would be released in the future as part of the drive
\nfor greater democracy pledged by Habibie.<\/p>\n
However the prisoners alleged the government had released
\npolitical prisoners as a token gesture aimed at gaining
\ninternational sympathy and not as part of genuine efforts to form
\na more democratic society.<\/p>\n
\"The release of political prisoners is an act of international
\ndiplomacy designed to attract foreign investors,\" they added.<\/p>\n
Investors have been reluctant to engage in Indonesia because
\nof the political uncertainty which has followed the resignation
\nof Soeharto in May.<\/p>\n
Budiman was sentenced to 13 years in April last year for
\nsubversion while Xanana is currently serving a 20 year sentence
\nfor plotting against the state and the illegal possession of
\nweapons.<\/p>\n
Six other PRD activists, including two -- Ken Budha
\nKusumandharu and Wilson B. Mutias -- who were pardoned on Friday,
\nalso signed the statement.<\/p>\n
It said Ken and Wilson had refused to leave the prison until
\nthe government set all political prisoners free. Ken and Wilson
\nwere sentenced to four years and five years respectively in April
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
The other four PRD signatories were Petrus Hari Hariyanto,
\nSuroso, Ignatius Damianus Pranowo and Yacobus Eko Kurniawan, all
\nof whom were jailed at the same time last year.<\/p>\n
Petrus was sentenced to six years and Suroso to seven years.
\nDamianus was sentenced to nine years and Yacobus to eight years.
\n(byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/budiman-xanana-urge-release-of-all-political-prisoners-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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