Jakarta – The government has officially granted amnesty to six prisoners and abolution to 44 political detainees. Government will also rehabilitate the late HR Dharsono's good reputation. Minister of Justice Muladi together with Attorney General AM Ghalib, issued this statement to reporters after he was received by President BJ Habibie at Bina Graha, Jakarta, on Friday (24/7). He said that the decision was based on the Presidential Instruction No.105/1998 about release of political prisoners. "The expression Napol and Tapol (both meaning political prisoners) does not exist in the dictionary for law. It simply does not exist. These cases concern crime with a political background, involving, for instance, the president, the security of the country and public order," Muladi said.
The six granted amnesty were, Ahmad Taufik bin Abubakar and Eko Maryadi, who were freed under conditions on July 2 1997. "Release under conditions would mean that during the remaining days of their sentence, they will be under surveillance. The amnesty, however, has wiped out such activities," explained the Minister. Four others were, Ken Budha Kusumandharu (Cipinang prison), Wilson B. Nurtias (Cipinang prison), Mohamad Soleh (Kalisosok prison) and Coen Husein Pontoh (Kalisosok prison.
Among the 44 prisoners who received abolution were a.o. Asep Ilyas FM bin KH Yusuf Sidiq (Tasikmalaya penitentiary), Abdul Muis bin Ma'un (Tasikmalaya penitentiary), Aberson Marle Sihaloho, and Rachmad Buchori alias Buyung RM (Cipinang prison).
About other prisoners including PRD figures, Muladi said that government have taken their case into consideration. "It is still going on. For instance, how far have they tried to alter the national ideology. This is related to ideology, not to communism. PRD has tried to alter the Pancasila ideology and that is incriminating their case. We also evaluate the crime, if it is of a serious nature, punishment will be accordingly. Small crimes, like 1-yearly sentence, would mean that the crime was a light one. Considerations will be given on a case by case system by the team. The team is considering the cases."
About Budiman Sudjatmiko, Muladi said, "I cannot promise anything, but his case is also being considered."
About aged political prisoners, Muladi replied, "that their case has been suggested by the team. "Their evaluation is also being considered, as well as rehabilitating the late Lt. General (Ret.) HR Dharsono's good name. The President has agreed to it, it only has to be processed. All his rights will be restored if his family concurs," said Muladi.
[According to the PRD, on July 25 Pontoh and Sholeh were released. Pontoh and Sholeh were tried for "subversion" and sentenced to six and five years respectively in 1997. Two other PRD activists being held at the Tangerang prison, Abdul Muis and Syarifudin, have also been released. Both were arrested on July 27 last year for handing out leaflets commemorating the anniversary of the military attack on the PDI headquarters in Jakarta in 1996. A July 26 report in Kompas said that Wilson and Ken Budha have also been given amnesty but have refused to leave Cipnang prison until all 14 political prisoners at the prison are also released. In a statement they said that releases is no more than "diplomatic maneuvering" by Habibie and that there should not be any criteria applied to such releases - James Balowski.]