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.