Jakarta – The House of Representatives' 11 factions have unanimously approved President Abdurrahman Wahid's request to grant amnesty and absolution to some 85 political detainees and prisoners.

In a letter dated October 27, President Abdurrahman asked the House to grant amnesty or absolution to people put behind bars for subversion. The list of amnesty recipients consists of East Timorese political prisoners, people involved in various subversion cases in Aceh and Lampung and five members of the Democratic People's Party (PRD), including its chairman Budiman Sudjatmiko.

The PRD leaders were imprisoned for supposedly masterminding riots following the government-backed violent takeover of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) headquarters from Megawati Soekarnoputri's supporters on July 27, 1996.

The newly amended 1945 Constitution requires the president to consult the House before granting amnesty or absolution to political prisoners. During Monday's plenary session, the House members also urged the government to grant amnesty or absolution to other political detainees and prisoners across the country not included on the list.

However, the House declined to release those who were jailed either for involvement in the September 30, 1965 abortive coup or for their links to the banned Indonesian Communist Party, which was blamed for masterminding the 1965 coup.