Govt to rule on code for ex-detainees
Govt to rule on code for ex-detainees
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M.
disclosed yesterday that the government will rule this month on
whether or not to do away with the controversial ex-Tapol (ET)
code for former political detainees.
The policy of stamping ET on the ID cards of former political
detainees linked to the now outlawed Indonesian Communist Party
(PKI), and the attempted coup it engineered in 1965 , has been
widely criticized as being highly discriminatory and a flagrant
violation of human rights.
Critics say that the policy, introduced in the 1970s, should
be abolished in the current spirit of reconciliation being
promoted as Indonesia celebrates its 50th independence
anniversary.
Yogie and other senior cabinet ministers were pressed by
reporters on the issue before attending a monthly cabinet meeting
led by President Soeharto yesterday.
"Insya Allah (God willing), there will be a decision before
Aug. 17," he said.
"The matter has been studied for some time, in fact for a very
long time, through consultations among related government
agencies," Yogie explained.
The ET code has been stamped on the ID cards of hundreds of
thousands of people released from detention and hard labor camps
in the late 1970s.
Fearing a revival of communism in the country, the policy was
originally intended to help the authorities monitor their
movement and activities.
But the ET stamp has subsequently subjected many of the former
detainees, and their children, to relentless discrimination,
especially when looking for work.
Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung separately said
yesterday that as far as he was concerned, "there's no problem"
with abolishing the code.
"It is up to the Ministry of Home Affairs," said Feisal.
The demand to have the policy abolished gathered renewed force
this week after the government made the first gesture of
reconciliation with some of its former adversaries.
Last Friday, the government announced that President Soeharto
had granted clemency to three political prisoners -- Soebandrio,
Omar Dhani and Raden Soegeng Soetarto -- who were serving life
sentences for their roles in the 1965 coup. The three, who have
been incarcerated for nearly 30 years, will walk free after Aug.
15 as a result of the clemency.
Besides these three, more than a dozen political prisoners
convicted for the 1965 coup are still in prison, with some facing
execution. There has been no news about their release but some
senior government officials said the possibility is being
considered.
In the same spirit of national reconciliation, it has been
suggested that the hundreds of Indonesians overseas, who have
been living in exile for nearly three decades because of their
PKI links, be allowed to return.
Like 81-year-old Soebandrio, who has asked to be allowed to
die a free man, some of these former PKI members in exile have
expressed a wish to die in their motherland.
Before the government can make a decision, Minister of Defense
and Security Gen. (ret.) Edi Sudradjat suggested that those
wishing to return should first submit formal requests.
"They should knock on the door, let us know that they want to
come home. Then we will consider all aspects of their requests,"
Edi said.
Gen. Feisal was more blunt in his reply.
"We have a law here, and we have to uphold the law. We have to
investigate their involvement (in the coup). If they were
involved, they should be punished," Feisal said.
When asked if any compassion would be shown after 30 years, he
replied: "The law still applies, even after 30 years. Those who
put the nation in jeopardy should be investigated. Let the law
determine if they are guilty or not."
Between 300 to 400 Indonesians with alleged ties to the PKI
are believed to be living abroad as political exiles, many of
whom have since become stateless citizens.
Among those exiles who have reportedly expressed a desire to
return home are A.M. Hanafi, Sobron Aidit, Oemar Said. A.
Soekrisno, and Djawoto. (emb)