50 political convicts to be released: Muladi

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie will soon release up to 50 political prisoners or detainees, including East Timorese and Acehnese activists, Minister of Justice Muladi said on Monday.

In a presidential decree, the President will grant amnesty to prisoners and drop charges against detainees. Muladi was quick to point out that the President would not include jailed East Timorese Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao, despite international pressures.

"Xanana is included in the process of East Timor settlement negotiations, which we hope can be solved too," Muladi said after meeting with Habibie at Merdeka Palace.

When asked about the precise date of the amnesty, Muladi only replied, "I hope it will be issued during this Ramadhan fasting month."

The President released at least 68 prisoners only two months after replacing Soeharto in May, including labor activist Muchtar Pakpahan and Sri Bintang Pamungkas.

Muladi said in June that at least 150 political prisoners were still behind bars.

Amnesty International said in its report earlier this month that the government had failed to fulfill its pledges on human rights and democracy, and was resorting to the repressive measures used by former president Soeharto's regime.

Amnesty said Habibie had come to power in May 1998 with a high profile agenda for political and human rights reform which had delivered early positive results, including the release of 120 political prisoners.

"Six months later, the Indonesian government appears to have lost sight of its commitments to respect human rights and for greater transparency and political participation," the report said.

Several human rights organizations have criticized the government for failing to release Muslim political prisoners and the leaders of the outlawed People's Democratic Party.

"Those who will receive amnesty will include members of the Aceh security disturbance movement, and several of them will also have their names cleared," Muladi said. (prb)