Budiman, Xanana urge release of all political prisoners
JAKARTA (JP): Sixteen political prisoners, including the leader of the outlawed Democratic People's Party (PRD) Budiman Sudjatmiko and East Timorese rebel leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao, have demanded that the government unconditionally release all political prisoners in the country.
"Abolish conditions for the release of political prisoners because they are discriminatory," the prisoners, who are all incarcerated in Cipinang prison, East Jakarta, said on Saturday in response to the release of 50 political prisoners announced by the government on Friday.
In a statement made available to The Jakarta Post, they said true reform could only begin if the government released all political detainees unconditionally and without exception.
"There can be no true reform without national reconciliation and there can be no national reconciliation without the release of all political prisoners," they said.
The government has said that those convicted of criminal offenses, involvement with the banned Indonesian Communist Party, or attempting to subvert the state ideology Pancasila would not be released.
The government has so far pardoned 73 of an estimated 200 political prisoners since President B.J. Habibie came to power in May after the fall of Soeharto.
Minister of Justice Muladi said on Friday that more political prisoners would be released in the future as part of the drive for greater democracy pledged by Habibie.
However the prisoners alleged the government had released political prisoners as a token gesture aimed at gaining international sympathy and not as part of genuine efforts to form a more democratic society.
"The release of political prisoners is an act of international diplomacy designed to attract foreign investors," they added.
Investors have been reluctant to engage in Indonesia because of the political uncertainty which has followed the resignation of Soeharto in May.
Budiman was sentenced to 13 years in April last year for subversion while Xanana is currently serving a 20 year sentence for plotting against the state and the illegal possession of weapons.
Six other PRD activists, including two -- Ken Budha Kusumandharu and Wilson B. Mutias -- who were pardoned on Friday, also signed the statement.
It said Ken and Wilson had refused to leave the prison until the government set all political prisoners free. Ken and Wilson were sentenced to four years and five years respectively in April last year.
The other four PRD signatories were Petrus Hari Hariyanto, Suroso, Ignatius Damianus Pranowo and Yacobus Eko Kurniawan, all of whom were jailed at the same time last year.
Petrus was sentenced to six years and Suroso to seven years. Damianus was sentenced to nine years and Yacobus to eight years. (byg)