Police free one of two detained activists
Police free one of two detained activists
JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta police precinct on Saturday
released a Pijar Foundation activist after detaining him for
nearly 24 hours on charges of publicly defaming the government.
Syahrul, who was detained after the police broke into the non-
governmental organization's headquarters for a second time on
Friday, was interrogated on the foundation's activities and its
periodical, Kabar dari Pijar (News from Pijar), which is critical
of the government.
About a dozen police officers raided Pijar's office on
Thursday night and arrested the periodical's editor, Tri Agus
Siswomihardjo.
Pijar activists said that the police also seized documents,
diskettes, books, posters and telephone and address books
belonging to the foundation.
On Friday the police returned to arrest Syahrul, the
foundation's administrative coordinator.
Secretary of Pijar's Presidium Council Bonar Tigor Naipospos
said in a statement made available to the Post yesterday that
precinct Chief Maj. Charles Marpaung released Syahrul but added
that he may be arrested again for questioning if necessary.
Bonar said that Tri Agus is still in police custody and will
be questioned about the organization's bulletin, which is accused
of being in violation of the Criminal Code's Article 154, which
addresses defamation of the government in public.
"If it is true that the raids and arrests were related to our
bulletin, it shows once again the absence of freedom of speech
and freedom of the press in Indonesia. In a democratic society,
it is every individual's right to obtain, read and spread
critical information on social development," Bonar said.
He said that the periodical was a form of "alternative press"
to balance the censorship by the government practiced through its
licensed mass media.
Bonar said the raids and arrests, which coincide with
President Soeharto's participation in the Copenhagen Social
Development Summit, could be detrimental to Indonesia's image
abroad.(pwn)