Indonesian government bans the PRD
By James Balowski
On September 29, Indonesia's Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the People's Democratic Party (PRD) and all its affiliated mass organisations had been banned. This includes Student Solidarity for Indonesian Democracy, the Centre for Labour Struggle (PPBI), the National Peasants Union and the People's Union.
The People's Art Network and Indonesian People's Solidarity Struggle with the Maubere People were not mentioned.
Fifteen PRD leaders were jailed earlier this year on charges of subversion, including PRD chairperson Budiman Sujatmiko and PPBI chairperson Dita Indah Sari. Officials said that the PRD had been banned because it posed a threat to security and public order and the organisation is “still secretly active”.
Earlier reports suggested that the 35 organisations which make up the umbrella organisation MARI would also be banned. Officials hinted that they were “considering” banning PUDI, chaired by Sri Bintang Pamungkas, the Marhaen People's Movement and the independent trade union, SBSI, chaired by Muchtar Pakpahan.
A PRD media release said the banning would have little effect on the party, which would intensify the program of activities decided at its national congress in August.
“We are not going to dissolve our organisation. On the contrary, we will go on consolidating it with a recruitment campaign”, it said.
On the same day the bannings were announced, the trial of Romo Sandyawan Sumardi and his older brother, Benny Sumardi, began. They are charged with hiding Sujatmiko and PRD secretary Petrus Haryanto following the July 27 riots last year which the regime accuses the PRD of instigating.
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