Govt frees 50 political prisoners

Govt frees 50 political prisoners

JAKARTA (JP): The government released 50 political prisoners
yesterday and pledged to restore the good name of the late
Hartono Rekso Dharsono, a soldier and diplomat jailed for
subversion by former president Soeharto's regime.

Minister of Justice Muladi announced the decision after
meeting with President B.J. Habibie at the Bina Graha
presidential office.

He did not give details on when the actual release would
occur, but said he and Attorney General Muhammad Ghalib would
personally notify heads of the penitentiaries concerned.

"There will be more political prisoners released in the future
as part of the drive for greater democracy pledged by President
B.J. Habibie," Muladi promised.

Members of Petisi 50, a group of government critics, were
among the first to call on Habibie's administration to restore
Dharsono's name.

After retiring from public life, Dharsono became one of
Soeharto's staunchest critics.

He was jailed in 1985 for undermining the government, and
inciting and causing unrest by his involvement in the drafting of
a white paper on the Tanjung Priok riot of Sept. 12, 1984.

He was freed for good behavior in 1990 after serving five
years of his jail term. Dharsono died of cancer in June 1996.

Relatives of those killed at Tanjung Priok, including preacher
Amir Biki, have pressured the government to reopen its
investigation.

Notable among those missing from the list of yesterday's
releases were East Timorese rebel leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana"
Gusmao and prodemocracy activist Budiman Sudjatmiko.

Regarding Budiman, the leader of the banned Democratic
People's Party (PRD), Muladi said he personally wished to see the
youth released. "But the government has so many things to
consider ... but there's hope yet," he said.

Several political prisoners involved in separatist movements
in East Timor, Aceh and Irian Jaya were also excluded, and Muladi
said they did not meet the criteria for release.

The government has said people convicted of criminal offenses,
involvement with the banned Indonesian Communist Party or for
attempting to distort the state ideology Pancasila will not be
released.

As of yesterday, the Habibie government has pardoned 73 of
about 200 political prisoners throughout the country. Habibie
assumed the presidency in May after the fall of Soeharto.

Released yesterday were people charged for either subversion,
defamation of Soeharto or involvement in the Tasikmalaya, West
Java, riots in 1996.

Among the releases were four of Budiman's fellow PRD
activists: Ken Budha Kusumandharu, Wilson B. Mutias, Mohammad
Sholeh and Coen Husein Pontoh.

Ken and Wilson were incarcerated along with Budiman in
Cipinang prison in East Jakarta. Mohamad and Coen were in
Kalisosok prison in Surabaya, East Java.

Thirty-six of the released prisoners, which included five
members of the Armed Forces, were involved in a group which
called itself the Tenth Division or the Revolutionary Escort
Command. They were arrested for holding illegal military training
in Malang, East Java, last year. Three of the group are women.

Also acquitted on all charges of defamation against Soeharto
were former legislator Aberson Marle Sihaloho and Rachmad
"Buyung" Buchori.

Asep Ilyas and Abdul Muis, both convicted for their
involvement in the Tasikmalaya unrest, were also released.

Asep was sentenced to one year and 10 months while Abdul to
two years imprisonment in last December. Agustiana Suryana, who
was sentenced to eight years for her involvement in the riot, was
not included for release.

Also cleared of all charges yesterday were Achmad Taufik and
Eko Maryadi from the Alliance of Independent Journalists, who
have been on probation since July 2. They were jailed in 1995 and
released last year. (byg/prb)