ASIET has received information, still to be confirmed, that there are plans to move Budiman Sujatmiko, President of the Peoples Democratic Party (PRD), to Nusakambangan prison.

Budiman was recently sentenced to 13 years prison for leading the PRD in its struggle against the Suharto dictatorship.

Nusakambangan prison is notorious for its bad conditions. It is on Nusakambangan island off the south coast of Java. It is generally inaccessible to the press and visitors.

No political prisoners have been located there for many years.

If it is confirmed that Budiman is to be moved to Nusakambangan, ASIET will be calling on all support groups, progressives and democrats to launch a campaign to stop this move, or if he is moved quickly to get him back to Jakarta – and then freed, with all other political prisoners!

Nusakambangan cannot be considered safe.