Jakarta - President B.J. Habibie has granted amnesty to 42 political prisoners accused of subversion. Two of them were involved in the Candi Borobudur bombing case, Hasbi Abdullah and Husein Ali Al Habsyi, and the other 40 people in subversion cases in Aceh.

The Minister of Justice, Muladi, told the press that in two days ten political prisoners involved in the G30S/PKI (1) affair would be given amnesty by the government. However the government was unable to give amnesty to People's Democratic Party (PRD) activists. "I think for the moment, not the PRD. Those who were offered freedom rejected it. This caused problems", explained the Minister (2).

The eight PRD members who are still behind bars are Budiman Sudjatmiko, Garda Sembiring, Ign Damianus Pranowo, J Eko Kurniawan, Suroso, Petrus Haryanto, IGAA Astika (Cipinang Prison), and Dita Indah Sari (Tangerang Women's Prison).

There are ten G30S/PKI who are being held in prisons in Cipinang, Gunungsari, Padang, Pamekasan and Medan. Most of them are around 70 years old and ill. They are Abdul Latief (72), Bungkus (72), N Marsudi (75), Asep Suryaman (74), Markus Girot (77), Sido (75), Buyung Ketek (73), Sri Soehardjo (76), Soma Soerjabrata (76) and Isnanto (78).

Some time ago 180 people were released followed by these 42, leaving 20 still in jail. Muladi did not say if all political prisoners would be granted amnesty. According to Muladi, forty of those released were involved in the Free Aceh Movement.

With regard to the amnesty for the 40 Acehenese prisoners, Muladi said it had no relationship with President Habibie's plans to visit Aceh on March 26. "The decision to go to Aceh was made mid last month while these releases was proposed to months ago. Certainly we will let them out before Pak Habibie departs. Some while [he is] in Aceh. I think that an atmosphere of reconciliation, a conducive atmosphere needs to be created so that Pak Habibie [is no seen to be all] empty talk. However if you want to [suggest there is] a link, it's up to you", said Muladi.

He also said that the releases were not linked to international pressure. "We have never [released political prisoners because of] international pressure. This is the process of reform, an interaction of the international and the internal. But what is important is the political will to respond to national issues", explained Muladi.

Muladi raised the issue of the armed forces repeatedly making it difficult to release political prisoners. But said it would not be possible for them to released without agreement from the armed forces headquarters. "So the chief of the armed forces and his officers agree with these releases. Don't view the armed forces as a blockage. They could not possibly be released with out the agreement of the armed forces headquarters, the Supreme Court and the Public Prosecutor. This was a joint decision", he said.

Translator's notes:

1. G30S/PKI: Gerakan 30 September/Partai Komunis Indonesia, the September 30 Movement/Indonesian Communist Party. An acronym referring to the alleged coup attempt in 1965 which the New Order regime blamed on the PKI. G30S was a grouping of middle ranking officers lead by Lieutenant Colonel Untung, who kidnaped and killed six generals whom they accused of being members of a "Council of Generals" allegedly organising a coup against president Sukarno.
2. On March 10, Kompas reported on a press statement received from Budiman and Hariyanto in which they said that the PRD had not committed any political crimes and therefore they rejected being offered clemency and wanted instead, all political prisoners to be freed unconditionally. In a Detikcom report on the same day Muladi responded by saying "Budiman's rejection will obviously make things difficult for me because as you know, I do not stand alone in this matter. If he takes steps which make it difficult for himself, that's not my business", but failed to address the substance of the PRD's statement.