PRD sentences

PRD sentences

When the Supreme Court of the United States makes important
judgments and interpretations of the U.S. Constitution and
national ideals, they are viewed as matters of great national
importance reflecting the very substance of national identity. In
that context, I would like to comment on the significant rulings
made by the Indonesian courts on April 28, 1997 that touched on
the interpretation of the Pancasila national ideology when
sentencing Mr. Budiman Sudjatmiko to a term of imprisonment of 13
years along with lengthy sentences for another eight PRD
(Democratic People's Party) members.

The effects of the rulings, if I am not mistaken, was that Mr.
Budiman and his party's non-violent advocacy of multi-party
political democracy, social democracy, political reform and
criticism of the government were subversive actions that are
inherently inconsistent with the Pancasila ideology, therefore
meriting term of imprisonment that are comparable with similar
sentences handed down in China to activists there who attempt to
"undermine" that country's state ideology with pro-democracy
activities.

If we are to take the Indonesian judiciary seriously, the
above judgments carry extremely serious consequences that, I
believe, appear to depart from the achievement of the New Order
government in ridding Indonesia in the 1960s from the specter of
totalitarian.

Events in Indonesia are now being watched, perhaps more
closely than at any time in its history, by international
experts, academics and investors; while the subversion trials
themselves are being scrutinized by observers from International
Commission of Jurists, the International Bar Association and
other respected international bodies. Indonesia can ill afford
further damage to its good name, especially in this increasingly-
competitive era of globalization.

However, surely if the criticism of these young pro-democracy
activists is unfounded and wrongly-targeted, is it not preferable
for the government to use its unlimited human resources and media
facilities to counter their arguments, rather than resorting to
draconian double-digit imprisonment terms that appear to run
contrary to article 28 of the 1945 Constitution and to the
resolve of the New Order administration to realize a "just and
civilized humanity?"

ROGER SMITH

Jakarta