PDI Perjuangan supports Agus Dwikarna's case
Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi
The South Sulawesi chapter of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) demanded on Tuesday that the party include during its incoming congress discussion on the sentencing of Indonesian national Agus Dwikarna in Manila in its agenda.
Claiming that it was the obligation of the nationalist- oriented party to protect the country's citizens, chairman of the PDI Perjuangan chapter Andi Potji said that he would open discourse on Agus Dwikarna's case with chairwoman President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also the President.
Megawati is slated to open the three-day congress in Bali on Wednesday.
Agus, a native of South Sulawesi was sentenced last week to between 10 years and 17 years in prison for a series of bomb- related charges in Manila.
"Agus' fate will become the South Sulawesi chapter's mission in Bali. We hope that if the case is discussed in the national meeting, it will have a positive impact on his defense," Potji, who is also deputy speaker of the provincial legislature, told The Jakarta Post.
He added that the party chapter would call on fellow party members nationwide to take the case into serious consideration, although Agus was not a member of the party. He leads Laskar Jundullah in South Sulawesi, which is active in campaigning for the implementation of sharia in the province.
Potji said that he had promised Agus' family and the Committee on the Implementation of Sharia (KSPI) that he would broker a direct meeting with the President.
Meanwhile, various Muslim organizations in the province, including Laskar Jundullah, KSPI, the Indonesian Muslim Students Association and the youth wing of the National Mandate Party (PAN) rallied at the legislative building to demand concrete action from the government to release Agus.
"We will stay here and even sleep here. We urge the government to step up diplomatic measures to make the Philippines release Agus," KSPI secretary-general Aswar Hasan said.