Inmates celebrate Idul Fitri modestly
Inmates celebrate Idul Fitri modestly
Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta was unusually crowded on Sunday thanks to a swell of visitors celebrating the Idul Fitri with their loved ones and relatives behind bars.
One inmate, Tengku Ismuhadi, the mastermind behind the Jakarta Stock Exchange bombing serving a 20-year sentence, was visited by his wife and children. This is his second Idul Fitri behind bars.
"I would, of course, prefer to celebrate Lebaran at home with my family but, somehow, I still feel lucky compared to the people in Aceh who can't even pray in peace," he said.
"There are many people in Aceh suffering greater misery than I, so I don't think I'm in a position to complain about celebrating Lebaran in the prison," said Ismuhadi, who is from Aceh.
His wife, Aznani, also came the day before Lebaran to bring him food for Idul Fitri Eve.
A mother named Wantini came to the prison to visit her son, Bondan Winarno, who is serving a year behind bars for extortion. She greeted him with a warm embrace as his two younger brothers kissed his hand.
"This will be the only and last time he celebrates Lebaran in prison," Wantini told The Jakarta Post. Bondan will be released in early January 2002.
Supardi, a man sentenced to 20 years for premeditated murder, said celebrating Idul Fitri without his wife and three children was not a burden because they visit him on school holidays.
His family resides in Surakarta, Central Jakarta.
He spent this year's Idul Fitri like the last one, volunteering to organize visitations by handing out guest tags inside the compound.
"There is no need to spend all that money, just so I wouldn't be alone on Lebaran -- I'll get to see them on school holidays anyway," said Supardi; he is scheduled to be released in January of 2003 after his seventh appeal for a remission, or a reduced sentence.
In all, 896 inmates of the Cipinang Penitentiary have been granted remission on Idul Fitri -- among 30,087 other inmates nationwide.
According to authorities, 61 of the 896 inmates in Jakarta walked free on Sunday; another 11 were freed as their detention time had ended during the last few days.
There are currently 1,135 people serving out their criminal sentences at the Cipinang Penitentiary.
Remission is usually granted two times a year -- once on Idul Fitri; the other on Independence Day.
Under a new policy, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, said that, upon announcing remissions, inmates convicted of drug use will be transferred to separate housing at a location in Gitung village, Cirebon, West Java.
"As for those who remain, I hope you will complete your detention time patiently, and refrain from any unlawful conduct like fighting and drug smuggling," urged Yusril, who performed the Lebaran morning prayer inside the compound.
Inmates at Cipinang have frequently engaged in brawls leading to the deaths of several prisoners. Illegal drugs are also peddled inside the compound; this has been the cause of much of the fighting.