Groups laud Dita's release

JAKARTA: International organizations have praised the release of jailed labor activist Dita Indah Sari on Monday. However, they also urged the unconditional release of other labor activists and "prisoners of conscience".

Amnesty International said it welcomed measures to address the human rights record and it urged authorities to take additional steps to implement legislative and institutional reforms to protect freedom of expression and association.

Dita's release, Amnesty International said, "comes at a time when Amnesty International is investigating recent reports of ill-treatment of PRD members by police and of threats attacks against PRD offices by unknown assailants" such as in Yogyakarta. Dita is a member of the Democratic People's Party (PRD).

Meanwhile, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions noted the "vigorous" campaigning by several organizations for Dita's release from her sentence of five years' imprisonment since 1997 for "subversion". (anr)