Aceh rebels not among inmates given remission

Aceh rebels not among inmates given remission

Nani Farida and Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post,
Banda Aceh/Medan

Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members have not been included among 331
inmates who will receive general remission from the government in
conjunction with Independence Day anniversary celebrations on
Sunday.

Head of penitentiary affairs at the Aceh justice and human
rights office Syafaruddin Z said that no Aceh rebels would have
their jail terms reduced as they were categorized as political
prisoners.

"Remission is given to ordinary criminals, for example
thieves, drug dealers or those convicted of violent crime. We
will not treat GAM members as common criminals," Syafaruddin
said.

He did not say how many rebels were currently serving jail
terms.

The government is launching a massive operation to crush GAM,
which has been fighting for independence since 1976.

Syafaruddin said the remission granted to the inmates ranged
from one to six months. Of the 331 inmates who had their jail
terms reduced, 28 will walk free on Sunday.

In the neighboring province, North Sumatra, the government has
reduced the jail terms of 5,267 inmates, 526 of whom will leave
prison on Sunday.

Head of penitentiary affairs at the provincial justice and
human rights office Lukas Tarigan said inmates given remission
included Fahrial, alias Ical, who was expected to be released in
May 2007, after having his 10-year jail sentence reduced by five
months. He was convicted of killing his own father, mother and
brother.

The remission excluded those who had been sentenced to
lifelong custody or had been given the death sentence.

Three people are serving lifetime sentences and four others
are on death row. President Megawati Soekarnoputri has not
responded to requests for mercy from the inmates sentenced to
death.

In Central Java, the government has remitted the jail
sentences of 2,637 inmates, with 328 due to be freed on Sunday.

Six people are waiting to be executed in the province, mostly
for premeditated murder.

In Bali, 10 foreigners are among 526 inmates who will have
their sentences remitted, Antara reported.

The foreigners were convicted of crimes related to drug
dealing. They are mostly serving jail terms in Denpasar
penitentiary.

Head of the Bali justice and human rights office Sriyanto said
two foreign inmates did not receive remission as they were
serving life sentences.

There are 22 foreigners in jail in Bali for a variety of
crimes, mostly related to drug dealing.