Caution urged in dealing with ex-communists

JAKARTA (JP): Speaker of the House Wahono called for caution yesterday in dealing with recent calls to release political prisoners implicated in the 1965 communist coup, stressing that communism remains a latent threat in Indonesia.

"Even though the political prisoners are quite old, we have to keep in mind the latent danger of the Indonesian Communist Party," Wahono said in a speech closing the House working session for a long recess.

"The President should first thoroughly deliberate the request before making his decision," Wahono said.

President Soeharto has received requests for clemency from three men -- Soebandrio, Omar Dhani and A. Latief -- who were implicated in the 1965 abortive communist coup. The Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) has since been outlawed.

Justice Minister Oetojo Oesman has said the President is expected to make his decision before Aug. 17, when Indonesia marks its 50th independence anniversary.

Some legal experts, senior statesmen and human rights campaigners have urged the government to release the prisoners because of their ages. They said releasing them would also be a reconciliatory gesture in connection with the nation's golden anniversary.

Soebandrio, now 80 years old, was deputy prime minister at the time of the attempted coup, while 71-year-old Omar Dhani was commander of the Air Force. A. Latief was a brigade commander at the Jakarta Military Command.

All three were originally sentenced to death, but their sentences were commuted to life terms, after they sought clemency the first time. If their second clemency request is granted, they are expected to be set free because they have already served 30 years.

The Armed Forces has already said that releasing them could pose a serious security problem, given the influence these aging prisoners could still command.

Wahono fell short of asking the President to reject the request yesterday, but urged the head of state to be careful in view of the latent threat of a communist revival.

"The ideology never died," Wahono warned.

Communism will always try to rear its head again, using societal divisions and poverty as means to gain mass support, he said.

Wahono also lent his full support to the government's national discipline campaign in his speech yesterday and reminded officials that their actions should be an example to everyone.

"Let us begin the national discipline campaign among ourselves ... including upholding discipline among House members," he said.

Wahono called for an end to what he perceived as the "erosion of discipline", not only among government officials but also society at large.

"We have to be brave enough to instill discipline among state officials and firmly act against those who disobey the law and other social norms," he argued.

Speaking on the work accomplished during the 1994/1995 session, Wahono said that the House had passed 13 of the 18 draft laws proposed by the government.

These include the draft laws on the extradition treaty between Indonesia and Australia and a draft on limited liability companies.

Among the bills still pending approval is the legislation on the stock exchange and on customs.

The House will be in recess up to Aug. 16, when President Soeharto is scheduled to present his annual State of the Nation address on the eve of Independence Day. (mds)