Govt to rule on code for ex-detainees<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M.
\ndisclosed yesterday that the government will rule this month on
\nwhether or not to do away with the controversial ex-Tapol (ET)
\ncode for former political detainees.<\/p>\n
The policy of stamping ET on the ID cards of former political
\ndetainees linked to the now outlawed Indonesian Communist Party
\n(PKI), and the attempted coup it engineered in 1965 , has been
\nwidely criticized as being highly discriminatory and a flagrant
\nviolation of human rights.<\/p>\n
Critics say that the policy, introduced in the 1970s, should
\nbe abolished in the current spirit of reconciliation being
\npromoted as Indonesia celebrates its 50th independence
\nanniversary.<\/p>\n
Yogie and other senior cabinet ministers were pressed by
\nreporters on the issue before attending a monthly cabinet meeting
\nled by President Soeharto yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"Insya Allah (God willing), there will be a decision before
\nAug. 17,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The matter has been studied for some time, in fact for a very
\nlong time, through consultations among related government
\nagencies,\" Yogie explained.<\/p>\n
The ET code has been stamped on the ID cards of hundreds of
\nthousands of people released from detention and hard labor camps
\nin the late 1970s.<\/p>\n
Fearing a revival of communism in the country, the policy was
\noriginally intended to help the authorities monitor their
\nmovement and activities.<\/p>\n
But the ET stamp has subsequently subjected many of the former
\ndetainees, and their children, to relentless discrimination,
\nespecially when looking for work.<\/p>\n
Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung separately said
\nyesterday that as far as he was concerned, \"there's no problem\"
\nwith abolishing the code.<\/p>\n
\"It is up to the Ministry of Home Affairs,\" said Feisal.<\/p>\n
The demand to have the policy abolished gathered renewed force
\nthis week after the government made the first gesture of
\nreconciliation with some of its former adversaries.<\/p>\n
Last Friday, the government announced that President Soeharto
\nhad granted clemency to three political prisoners -- Soebandrio,
\nOmar Dhani and Raden Soegeng Soetarto -- who were serving life
\nsentences for their roles in the 1965 coup. The three, who have
\nbeen incarcerated for nearly 30 years, will walk free after Aug.
\n15 as a result of the clemency.<\/p>\n
Besides these three, more than a dozen political prisoners
\nconvicted for the 1965 coup are still in prison, with some facing
\nexecution. There has been no news about their release but some
\nsenior government officials said the possibility is being
\nconsidered.<\/p>\n
In the same spirit of national reconciliation, it has been
\nsuggested that the hundreds of Indonesians overseas, who have
\nbeen living in exile for nearly three decades because of their
\nPKI links, be allowed to return.<\/p>\n
Like 81-year-old Soebandrio, who has asked to be allowed to
\ndie a free man, some of these former PKI members in exile have
\nexpressed a wish to die in their motherland.<\/p>\n
Before the government can make a decision, Minister of Defense
\nand Security Gen. (ret.) Edi Sudradjat suggested that those
\nwishing to return should first submit formal requests.<\/p>\n
\"They should knock on the door, let us know that they want to
\ncome home. Then we will consider all aspects of their requests,\"
\nEdi said.<\/p>\n
Gen. Feisal was more blunt in his reply.<\/p>\n
\"We have a law here, and we have to uphold the law. We have to
\ninvestigate their involvement (in the coup). If they were
\ninvolved, they should be punished,\" Feisal said.<\/p>\n
When asked if any compassion would be shown after 30 years, he
\nreplied: \"The law still applies, even after 30 years. Those who
\nput the nation in jeopardy should be investigated. Let the law
\ndetermine if they are guilty or not.\"<\/p>\n
Between 300 to 400 Indonesians with alleged ties to the PKI
\nare believed to be living abroad as political exiles, many of
\nwhom have since become stateless citizens.<\/p>\n
Among those exiles who have reportedly expressed a desire to
\nreturn home are A.M. Hanafi, Sobron Aidit, Oemar Said. A.
\nSoekrisno, and Djawoto. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-to-rule-on-code-for-ex-detainees-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}