Govt to release at least 10 political prisoners<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Justice Muladi said yesterday that
\nhe would meet with President B.J. Habibie today to discuss the
\nrelease of between 10 and 15 political prisoners.<\/p>\n
Muladi said in Semarang, Central Java, that he and
\nMinister\/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung would meet with Habibie
\nto discuss who would be released in the next few weeks.<\/p>\n
He said prisoners being considered would fall into categories
\nof those incarcerated because they were critical of the previous
\ngovernment under president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Muladi would not specify which individuals would be released
\nbut, when pressed by journalists, acknowledged that jailed former
\nlegislator Sri Bintang Pamungkas would likely be among them.<\/p>\n
"Sri Bintang Pamungkas could very likely be included in this
\ncategory," he said as quoted by Antara<\/p>\n
But the minister quickly raised doubts about the release of
\nEast Timor separatist leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao when
\nhis name was mentioned.<\/p>\n
"For Xanana Gusmao I'm not so sure. I'm not too sure because
\nhis case is entirely different. Let's wait and see tomorrow
\n(today)," he said, adding that those jailed because of criminal
\nacts or armed rebellion would probably not be considered for
\nrelease.<\/p>\n
He added that political prisoners jailed for their activities
\nwith the now banned Indonesian Communist Party could also be
\nconsidered if they were over 70-years-old or nearing the end of
\ntheir life.<\/p>\n
Separately, Sri Bintang Pamungkas said yesterday at Cipinang
\nPenitentiary in East Jakarta that he and other political
\nprisoners would reject being released under an amnesty.<\/p>\n
"We strongly refuse the word amnesty in connection with our
\nrelease as political prisoners. The correct word should be 'free
\nwithout any condition or doubt'," said the former legislator who
\nhas been in jail since 1996 after being found guilty of defaming
\nthen president Soeharto. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-to-release-at-least-10-political-prisoners-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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