Govt frees 50 political prisoners<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government released 50 political prisoners
\nyesterday and pledged to restore the good name of the late
\nHartono Rekso Dharsono, a soldier and diplomat jailed for
\nsubversion by former president Soeharto's regime.<\/p>\n
Minister of Justice Muladi announced the decision after
\nmeeting with President B.J. Habibie at the Bina Graha
\npresidential office.<\/p>\n
He did not give details on when the actual release would
\noccur, but said he and Attorney General Muhammad Ghalib would
\npersonally notify heads of the penitentiaries concerned.<\/p>\n
\"There will be more political prisoners released in the future
\nas part of the drive for greater democracy pledged by President
\nB.J. Habibie,\" Muladi promised.<\/p>\n
Members of Petisi 50, a group of government critics, were
\namong the first to call on Habibie's administration to restore
\nDharsono's name.<\/p>\n
After retiring from public life, Dharsono became one of
\nSoeharto's staunchest critics.<\/p>\n
He was jailed in 1985 for undermining the government, and
\ninciting and causing unrest by his involvement in the drafting of
\na white paper on the Tanjung Priok riot of Sept. 12, 1984.<\/p>\n
He was freed for good behavior in 1990 after serving five
\nyears of his jail term. Dharsono died of cancer in June 1996.<\/p>\n
Relatives of those killed at Tanjung Priok, including preacher
\nAmir Biki, have pressured the government to reopen its
\ninvestigation.<\/p>\n
Notable among those missing from the list of yesterday's
\nreleases were East Timorese rebel leader Jose Alexandre \"Xanana\"
\nGusmao and prodemocracy activist Budiman Sudjatmiko.<\/p>\n
Regarding Budiman, the leader of the banned Democratic
\nPeople's Party (PRD), Muladi said he personally wished to see the
\nyouth released. \"But the government has so many things to
\nconsider ... but there's hope yet,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Several political prisoners involved in separatist movements
\nin East Timor, Aceh and Irian Jaya were also excluded, and Muladi
\nsaid they did not meet the criteria for release.<\/p>\n
The government has said people convicted of criminal offenses,
\ninvolvement with the banned Indonesian Communist Party or for
\nattempting to distort the state ideology Pancasila will not be
\nreleased.<\/p>\n
As of yesterday, the Habibie government has pardoned 73 of
\nabout 200 political prisoners throughout the country. Habibie
\nassumed the presidency in May after the fall of Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Released yesterday were people charged for either subversion,
\ndefamation of Soeharto or involvement in the Tasikmalaya, West
\nJava, riots in 1996.<\/p>\n
Among the releases were four of Budiman's fellow PRD
\nactivists: Ken Budha Kusumandharu, Wilson B. Mutias, Mohammad
\nSholeh and Coen Husein Pontoh.<\/p>\n
Ken and Wilson were incarcerated along with Budiman in
\nCipinang prison in East Jakarta. Mohamad and Coen were in
\nKalisosok prison in Surabaya, East Java.<\/p>\n
Thirty-six of the released prisoners, which included five
\nmembers of the Armed Forces, were involved in a group which
\ncalled itself the Tenth Division or the Revolutionary Escort
\nCommand. They were arrested for holding illegal military training
\nin Malang, East Java, last year. Three of the group are women.<\/p>\n
Also acquitted on all charges of defamation against Soeharto
\nwere former legislator Aberson Marle Sihaloho and Rachmad
\n\"Buyung\" Buchori.<\/p>\n
Asep Ilyas and Abdul Muis, both convicted for their
\ninvolvement in the Tasikmalaya unrest, were also released.<\/p>\n
Asep was sentenced to one year and 10 months while Abdul to
\ntwo years imprisonment in last December. Agustiana Suryana, who
\nwas sentenced to eight years for her involvement in the riot, was
\nnot included for release.<\/p>\n
Also cleared of all charges yesterday were Achmad Taufik and
\nEko Maryadi from the Alliance of Independent Journalists, who
\nhave been on probation since July 2. They were jailed in 1995 and
\nreleased last year. (byg\/prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-frees-50-political-prisoners-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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