Campaign launched for legalisation of PRD

By James Balowski

On July 14, Indonesian democracy activists launched a campaign demanding a lifting of the ban on the People's Democratic Party (PRD) and the freeing of all PRD and other political prisoners.

The press conference at the offices of the Legal Aid Institute in Jakarta -- which was headed by Hendy Kauk, spokesperson for the Preparatory Committee for the Legalisation of the PRD -- was packed with activists and local and international journalists.

Well-known opposition figures present included Sukarnoist democracy activist and mystic Permadi, dramatist Ratna Sarumpaet, human rights lawyer Mulyana Kusumah and the parents of jailed PRD leaders Budiman Sujatmiko and Dita Sari.

The launch also received solidarity greetings from Malaysia, the Philippines, the Netherlands, Australia, Pakistan and India.

On July 14, Andi Arief, chairperson of the PRD-affiliated student organisation Student Solidarity for Indonesian Democracy, was released.

Andi Arief was kidnapped at gunpoint on March 28 and held for 18 days in an unknown location. He was then handed over to the Jakarta police, who announced that he would be charged in connection with an explosion at a house in Jakarta.

The police have refused to reveal the identity of the security forces who handed him over. In a blatant cover-up for the kidnappers, the Jakarta police dated Andi's arrest warrant to March 28.

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