No foreign pressure in ET code removal: Armed Forced
No foreign pressure in ET code removal: Armed Forced
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) has denied
suggestions that the government's decision to remove the notation
"ET" (ex-political detainee) from the identification cards of
former political prisoners had been made as a result of pressure
from overseas.
ABRI Spokesman Brig. Gen. Suwarno Adiwijoyo said yesterday
that the government's main consideration in scrapping the much-
criticized practice was that of stability.
"It's not because of the mounting demands at home either," he
told journalists. The government's decision to do away with the
ET notation, widely applauded, was announced on Aug. 7.
The announcement came amid growing pressure from human rights
campaigners, statesmen and politicians, who argued that the ET
stamp was highly discriminatory, not only in relation to
individuals, but also as regarded their immediate relatives.
Discrimination was said to be most commonly felt in connection
with applications for jobs.
The policy of including the ET notation on identification
cards was introduced in the 1970s to allow the government to
monitor the whereabouts and activities of former detainees linked
with the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).
The PKI was outlawed in 1966 after it was accused of
masterminding the abortive coup a year earlier. Many of the
party's members and supporters were rounded up subsequently and
sentenced to hard labor on Buru Island in Maluku. They were
released under a general amnesty in the late 1970s.
Suwarno denied there had been any pressure from international
human rights activists and politicians. "The government was not
under pressure in making the decision," he said.
He also denied reports that the policy shift was linked to the
efforts towards national reconciliation initiated as part of the
country's 50th anniversary, which falls on Aug. 17.
Suwarno said the main reason behind the removal of the ET
stamp from former political detainees' identification cards was
the government's success in disseminating the state ideology
Pancasila.
Suwarno said another consideration behind the policy
turnaround was the fact that the bloody abortive coup occurred 30
years ago, long enough for the nation to heal the wounds.
"Some political detainees have been in jail for almost 30
years," he said.
He stressed, however, that it was important for the government
to keep a close eye on the activities of former political
detainees. "We don't want another coup attempt to happen here,"
he said.
The authorities will not only monitor the movements of ex-
political detainees but also those of their sympathizers, he
said.
Suwarno called a press briefing yesterday in connection with
ABRI's preparations for the Independence Day celebrations this
week.
The government will invite 23 people from other countries to
attend the celebrations in honor of their contributions to
Indonesia's struggle for independence, he said.
The invitees are from Pakistan, Malaysia, India, Thailand and
Japan. Some of those invited have previously been awarded first
and second class medals for their contributions to Indonesia's
independence struggle. (imn)