Sigit Widodo, Jakarta – Dita Indah Sari, chairperson of the Indonesian Centre for Labour Struggle (PPBI) – which is affiliated to the People's Democratic Party (PRD) – was released from the Tangerang Women's Prison on Monday, July 5. Upon being released, Dita went pay a visit to her mother's grave, Nonya Lili Fernandes.

While giving paying her respects [to her mother] at the Kramat Pulo grave yard in Jakarta at around 1pm [Dita's mother died while she was in prison and the authorities refused to allow her to attend the funeral - JB], she was accompanied by her PRD colleges. Along with Dita's father, Ajidaraska, they were present when she was released from the Tangerang prison. Dita and the PRD plan to hold a press conference at the offices of the Central Leadership Committee of the PRD located on Jalan Basuki Rachmad at 4pm.

"I came to pay my respects to my mother because she died when I was still in jail as a result to being discarded by the New Order regime", she said while accompanied by her Indonesian Legal Aid Institute lawyer, Apong Herlina and college, Coen Husein Pontoh. Dita was jailed at the Tangerang Women's Prison because along with her colleges Husein and Mohamad Soleh, she organised a worker demonstration in Tandes, Surabaya, in July 1996.

After leaving [the prison], Dita held a special telephone interview with Detikcom.

Detik: Previously you rejected [an offer to be released], why now did you accept release?

Dita: Before it was a question of being granted clemency [which came with the condition that Dita would agree not be involved in any political activity until the year 2002 - JB], if I accepted that it mean that I was [admitting that I was] guilty [under Indonesian law accepting clemency means acknowledging guilt for a crime - JB]. Now [my release has been granted] without conditions, [I have been] granted amnesty.

Detik: Why were you alone released, what about the other [PRD political prisoners]?

Dita: That's what is strange, why are the other friends in Cipinang prison, Budiman, Suroso, Petrus, Anom, Garda Sembiring, Pratowo, still in jail. It shows that the new regime releases us after there is pressure. This is not a change [in the character of the regime, we are] just a political "commodity" because we are released in installments.

Detik: What is your reaction to your release?

Dita: I am happy yeah, because I can be active [again] in struggle with my friends. But remember, this cannot be separated from [the issue of treating us as] political commodities because their aim was to lift government popularity.

Detik: What are your plans after being released?

Dita: I will return to being active in struggling for the working class. We will strengthen the labour unions, not just [in relation to] economic demands, but also politically. Because at the moment most worker organisations which are formed are conscious only of economic demands. For us it is economic and political consciousness.

Detik: Couldn't this have been done from within jail?

Dita: It could, but it's limited. Certainly communication with my friends while in jail was still possible, through letters and with those who could visit, but it was still limited, now it will be freer.

Detik: Your reaction to the Bloody KPU Incident?

Dita: Yeah well. Now there is a new regime but [still with the same] old thinking... ha... ha.

Detik: What is the future for the PRD and PPBI?

Dita: From the results of the election we are conscious that you can't just rely on building middle class and student forces, but we must begin to broaden our basis in all sectors [of society].

Detik: What about the results of the election in which [votes for the PRD] did not reach two percent, is the PRD ready to be disbanded?

Dita: The parliamentary movement is not the only way to struggle for democracy and reformasi. That can also be done outside parliament. [But] we will continue to put pressure on those who are in the parliament.

Detik: So it's not the end of the world?

Dita: We did not think that the PRD would get any seats in the election, but it's not the end of the world. We believe that this election was a valuable lesson on how to mobilise the masses, and how we can organise PRD members in the context of an election.

PRD representative in the KPU threatened by telephone

Detikcom - July 5, 1999

Sigit Widodo, Jakarta – The People's Democratic Party (PRD) representative on the General Election Commission (KPU), Hendri Kuok, has constantly been terrorised following the Bloody KPU Incident on Thursday, July 1. This was related in press release from the Central Leadership Committee of the PRD on Monday, July 5.

According to the press release, several hours after the shooting of PRD demonstrators in front of the KPU building, Hendri began receiving repeated phone threats. The threats have continued since then and are tainted with racism [Hendri is ethnic Chinese - JB].

The press release also denied [allegations of] Hendri's involvement in the PRD action on Thursday. [It said that] Hendri's role in the action was not as a demonstrator but rather in the capacity of a KPU member. It was also denied that Hendri had called on the demonstrators to clash with police. According to the press release there was also an intervention by KPU security which appeared [to be from] the Habibie government not to give permission for PRD members to enter the KPU building.

Because of the continued terror, Hendri admitted to Detikcom that since the Bloody KPU Incident he was afraid to return home. "Yeah, at most [I go home] to get [a clean] shirt", said Hendri. Hendri said that is still able to stay at a friends house in Bekasi.

Only as of today has Hendri been able to again be present at the KPU since the Bloody KPU Incident. He did not appear to be disturbed by the telephone threats. Does it disrupt his work as a member of the KPU? "Yeah, slightly", said Hendri, smiling.

[Translated by James Balowski]