Caution urged in dealing with ex-communists

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)