ET code removal hailed

ET code removal hailed

JAKARTA (JP): The government's decision to remove the Eks
Tahanan-politik (ET) code from the identity cards of former
political detainees has gained support from various circles.

Arief Budiman, who used to teach at Satya Wacana Christian
University in Salatiga, Central Java, said yesterday that the
government's policy to stamp ET on the ID cards of political
detainees with previous links to the Indonesian Communist Party
(PKI) was against the principle of human rights and
discriminative.

"I have sympathy for their children because the brand has made
it difficult for them to get jobs," he told The Jakarta Post.

He said that at one time he could understand the government's
policy, which was originally meant to help security officers
monitor the activities and whereabouts of former political
detainees.

However, he said, the government should be realistic and
immediately remove the codes from all ID cards.

"The sooner the ET code is removed, the better it will be for
the former detainees and their children," he said.

The government decision to remove the code, which was
introduced in the 1970s, was announced early this week.

Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security
Soesilo Soedarman said on Monday that the government would start
phasing out the code starting Aug. 18.

The PKI was outlawed in 1966 following its abortive coup
attempt in October 1965. Many of its members and supporters were
rounded up subsequently and sentenced to hard labor on Buru
Island in Maluku. They were released under a general amnesty in
the late 1970s.

Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Feisal Tanjung said after
briefing garrison officers in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, on
Tuesday that the armed forces had no problem with the
government's decision as it already has a list and other means to
monitor their activities.

"The monitoring job will be done by security officers, local
administrations and the people," he added.

Gen. (ret.) Rudini, chairman of the Institute for Strategic
Studies of Indonesia, also supports the government's decision.

"The ET code removal is acceptable as the former political
detainees will have no courage to revive communism anymore," he
said, adding that communism was no longer welcome in Indonesia.

DPR

Chairman of the Armed Forces faction at the House of
Representatives (DPR) Abu Hartono said the policy will restore
the rights of the former detainees and their family members to
participate in general elections and to enroll at military
academies.

Abu warned, however, that the people have to remain on alert
and be wary of the possible reemergence of communism in
Indonesia.

Djupri, deputy chairman of DPR's Commission III from the
Indonesian Democratic Party faction, said the new policy also
should be implemented in line with the restoration of the
detainees' civic rights.

Oka Mahendra, a legislator from the Golkar faction, said the
policy will eliminate the former detainees' psychological
barriers to participating in social activities.

Meanwhile, Soetandyo Wignjosoebroto, a member of the National
Commission on Human Rights, said the newly-announced policy
proves that the human rights condition in Indonesia has been
improving. (har/imn)