Jailed labor activist demands her release

TANGERANG (JP): Ditasari, jailed for subversion at Tangerang Women's Penitentiary, called for international organizations on Monday to press the Indonesian government for her unconditional release.

Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union secretary-general Sunarty, who visited the activist, said Ditasari sent letters to the International Labor Organization, Canadian Labor Union (CLC) and the Philippine Labor Union (BATA) to ask for their help in pressing the government for her release.

"She also urges the government to stop worker dismissals and to respect the freedom of association among workers," Sunarty quoted Ditasari as saying at the prison.

Ditasari, 26, who recently rejected an offer of clemency from President B.J. Habibie, said she refused it because she did not commit any violations.

The Surabaya District Court sentenced Ditasari to six years in prison in April 1997, a month before Soeharto's resignation from the presidency, because she was found guilty of defaming Soeharto and his government when leading a workers demonstration in the city.

She was moved from the Surabaya penitentiary to the Malang jail in East Java last year before being transferred to the Tangerang prison this year.

Chief of the union's women and child labor section Dian Dalimunte said her organization would continue holding demonstrations in Jakarta to urge Habibie's government to grant Ditasari's unconditional release. (rms)