Free them all<\/p>\n
A job half done is a job undone. Debatable as such a statement
\nmay be to some, many people would agree that this holds true in
\nthe case of the release of political prisoners in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Of the hundreds of prisoners of conscience who have been
\nlanguishing for months or years in prisons across this country,
\ntwo of the most prominent among them -- university lecturer and
\ndissenting politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas and independent labor
\nleader Muchtar Pakpahan -- were released earlier this week and
\nare now back in the forefront of the reform movement.<\/p>\n
Amid the current demands for total reform and the correction
\nof the wrongs and injustices done under the recently departed
\nregime, the release of these opposition leaders has naturally
\nbeen greeted by the public as one of the most significant so far.<\/p>\n
The release of the two, however, is not enough. Unless the
\ngovernment follows up their release and honors its promise to
\nfree more prisoners, and fast, an impression could easily arise
\nthat Bintang's and Pakpahan's release was no more than a cosmetic
\nstep aimed at assuring Indonesians and the world that things have
\nchanged in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Indeed, given the current climate of total reform, even the
\npromise of more releases in the coming weeks -- with the
\ncondition that those freed were not involved in the 1965
\ncommunist coup and still show a faithful adherence to the
\nPancasila national ideology and the Constitution -- may not
\nsatisfy the multitudes of Indonesians seeking to correct the
\nwrongs of Soeharto's New Order regime.<\/p>\n
In a true democracy where the basic rights of citizens is
\nrespected and imprisonment for purely political or ideological
\nreasons is unacceptable, no one should be imprisoned for holding
\nand expressing views that differ from those in power. The calls
\nby the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation and the Indonesian Legal
\nAid and Human Rights Association for the government release all
\npolitical prisoners indiscriminately and unconditionally must be
\nseen in this light.<\/p>\n
Important as these considerations may be, much more than the
\nissue of basic rights is involved in these calls. For one thing,
\nIndonesia urgently needs to improve its image if it is to draw
\nworld sympathy to its side to overcome the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
An unconditional release of political prisoners would
\ncertainly do much to restore this country's poor human rights
\nreputation, tattered further in the past months by reported
\nabductions and torture of student and political activists, the
\nforceful repression of peaceful demonstrations and the fatal
\nshootings of students in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Of no less importance is the fact that the government needs
\nthe full support of all Indonesians if it is to conquer this
\ncountry's protracted crisis. Now is the time for the government
\nto start working toward a national reconciliation involving all
\nsegments of society. For this purpose, we can imagine no better
\ngesture than the indiscriminate and unconditional release of all
\npolitical prisoners.<\/p>\n
Regarding Jose Alexandre \"Xanana\" Gusmao: The government may
\nfind it worthwhile -- if only for practical reasons -- to
\nconsider the release of the East Timorese leader as well.
\nAlthough political courage may be needed, Xanana's release would
\ncertainly lift the new government's standing abroad
\nsignificantly. Indeed, the longer Xanana stays in prison, the
\ngreater his international stature seems to become. Should the
\ngovernment feel uncomfortable with the idea of having Xanana walk
\nfree on Indonesian soil, it could always ask a friendly country
\n-- Australia or South Africa, perhaps -- to accept the East
\nTimorese leader.<\/p>\n
The issue of political prisoners, Xanana included, has long
\nbeen a thorn in Indonesia's side. It is time that we resolve this
\nproblem once and for all.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/free-them-all-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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