No foreign pressure in ET code removal: Armed Forced<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) has denied
\nsuggestions that the government's decision to remove the notation
\n\"ET\" (ex-political detainee) from the identification cards of
\nformer political prisoners had been made as a result of pressure
\nfrom overseas.<\/p>\n
ABRI Spokesman Brig. Gen. Suwarno Adiwijoyo said yesterday
\nthat the government's main consideration in scrapping the much-
\ncriticized practice was that of stability.<\/p>\n
\"It's not because of the mounting demands at home either,\" he
\ntold journalists. The government's decision to do away with the
\nET notation, widely applauded, was announced on Aug. 7.<\/p>\n
The announcement came amid growing pressure from human rights
\ncampaigners, statesmen and politicians, who argued that the ET
\nstamp was highly discriminatory, not only in relation to
\nindividuals, but also as regarded their immediate relatives.
\nDiscrimination was said to be most commonly felt in connection
\nwith applications for jobs.<\/p>\n
The policy of including the ET notation on identification
\ncards was introduced in the 1970s to allow the government to
\nmonitor the whereabouts and activities of former detainees linked
\nwith the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).<\/p>\n
The PKI was outlawed in 1966 after it was accused of
\nmasterminding the abortive coup a year earlier. Many of the
\nparty's members and supporters were rounded up subsequently and
\nsentenced to hard labor on Buru Island in Maluku. They were
\nreleased under a general amnesty in the late 1970s.<\/p>\n
Suwarno denied there had been any pressure from international
\nhuman rights activists and politicians. \"The government was not
\nunder pressure in making the decision,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also denied reports that the policy shift was linked to the
\nefforts towards national reconciliation initiated as part of the
\ncountry's 50th anniversary, which falls on Aug. 17.<\/p>\n
Suwarno said the main reason behind the removal of the ET
\nstamp from former political detainees' identification cards was
\nthe government's success in disseminating the state ideology
\nPancasila.<\/p>\n
Suwarno said another consideration behind the policy
\nturnaround was the fact that the bloody abortive coup occurred 30
\nyears ago, long enough for the nation to heal the wounds.<\/p>\n
\"Some political detainees have been in jail for almost 30
\nyears,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He stressed, however, that it was important for the government
\nto keep a close eye on the activities of former political
\ndetainees. \"We don't want another coup attempt to happen here,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The authorities will not only monitor the movements of ex-
\npolitical detainees but also those of their sympathizers, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Suwarno called a press briefing yesterday in connection with
\nABRI's preparations for the Independence Day celebrations this
\nweek.<\/p>\n
The government will invite 23 people from other countries to
\nattend the celebrations in honor of their contributions to
\nIndonesia's struggle for independence, he said.<\/p>\n
The invitees are from Pakistan, Malaysia, India, Thailand and
\nJapan. Some of those invited have previously been awarded first
\nand second class medals for their contributions to Indonesia's
\nindependence struggle. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/no-foreign-pressure-in-et-code-removal-armed-forced-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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