House members seek clemency for political inmates<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two members of the House of Representatives
\nurged yesterday the government to approve the requests for
\nclemency from three political prisoners, who have been
\nincarcerated for nearly 30 years.<\/p>\n
During a hearing with Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman, the
\nHouse members, V.B. da Costa and K.H. Syamsuri Badawi, argued
\nthat the request for clemency should be granted on humanitarian
\ngrounds.<\/p>\n
\"As a civilized nation, we must be able to forget their past
\nmistakes,\" V.B. da Costa of the Indonesian Democratic Party
\nfaction, said.<\/p>\n
Syamsuri, from the United Development Party faction, said the
\ngovernment should approve their appeals if they really had atoned
\nfor their past mistakes. \"Islam teaches us to give forgiveness to
\nthose who admit their mistakes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The government could find out that the three political
\nprisoners have changed their political outlook and that they have
\nbecome religious, he added.<\/p>\n
The three political prisoners -- Subandrio, Omar Dhani and
\nLatief Cakraningrat -- were all convicted by the court in the
\n1960s for their role in the 1965 communist-back putsch. They were
\nall sentenced to death, but President Soeharto has since commuted
\nthe sentences of Subandrio and Omar Dhani to life imprisonment.
\nLatief is, technically, still on death row.<\/p>\n
The three men have been encouraged by Minister Oetojo Oesman
\nto apply for a special clemency from President Soeharto. However,
\nthe minister has repeatedly stressed that the final decision
\nwould have to come from the head of state.<\/p>\n
Talks concerning the special clemency surfaced amid calls from
\nsome politicians that the government make reconciliation moves
\nwith some of its opponents, particularly political prisoners, as
\nthe nation celebrates its 50th independence anniversary this
\nyear.<\/p>\n
As part of the anniversary, the government is considering
\ngiving special pardons to some 24,000 prisoners this year.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, Oetojo told the hearing with the House's Commission
\nIII that Soeharto is expected to make a ruling on the clemency
\napplication before Independence Day on Aug. 17.<\/p>\n
After the hearing, he told reporters that he has submitted his
\nreport on the attitude and conduct of the three prisoners,
\naccompanying the letters requesting clemency, to President
\nSoeharto.<\/p>\n
The minister and Chief Justice Soerjono have also presented
\nsome \"humanitarian\" factors which would be contemplated by the
\nPresident in considering the request, he said. Considerations
\ngiven by those who support and those who oppose the clemency have
\nalso been laid out to the President, he added.<\/p>\n
Soebandrio, now 80 years old, was deputy prime minister to
\nPresident Sukarno in the 1960s. Omar Dhani, 71, was
\nminister\/chief of staff of the Air Force. Latief, in his 70s, was
\na division commander of the Jakarta military command. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-members-seek-clemency-for-political-inmates-1447893297",
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