Budiman, Xanana urge release of all political prisoners

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)