Govt to release at least 10 political prisoners

Govt to release at least 10 political prisoners

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Justice Muladi said yesterday that
he would meet with President B.J. Habibie today to discuss the
release of between 10 and 15 political prisoners.

Muladi said in Semarang, Central Java, that he and
Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung would meet with Habibie
to discuss who would be released in the next few weeks.

He said prisoners being considered would fall into categories
of those incarcerated because they were critical of the previous
government under president Soeharto.

Muladi would not specify which individuals would be released
but, when pressed by journalists, acknowledged that jailed former
legislator Sri Bintang Pamungkas would likely be among them.

"Sri Bintang Pamungkas could very likely be included in this
category," he said as quoted by Antara

But the minister quickly raised doubts about the release of
East Timor separatist leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao when
his name was mentioned.

"For Xanana Gusmao I'm not so sure. I'm not too sure because
his case is entirely different. Let's wait and see tomorrow
(today)," he said, adding that those jailed because of criminal
acts or armed rebellion would probably not be considered for
release.

He added that political prisoners jailed for their activities
with the now banned Indonesian Communist Party could also be
considered if they were over 70-years-old or nearing the end of
their life.

Separately, Sri Bintang Pamungkas said yesterday at Cipinang
Penitentiary in East Jakarta that he and other political
prisoners would reject being released under an amnesty.

"We strongly refuse the word amnesty in connection with our
release as political prisoners. The correct word should be 'free
without any condition or doubt'," said the former legislator who
has been in jail since 1996 after being found guilty of defaming
then president Soeharto. (mds)