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.