By James Balowski

According to the leaders of the People's Democratic Party (PRD) in Indonesia, two PRD prisoners, Coen Pontoh and Mohammad Sholeh, were released on July 25. Along with Dita Sari, chairperson of the independent trade union, the Indonesian Centre for Labour Struggle, Pontoh and Sholeh were tried in 1997 for “subversion” and sentenced to six and five years jail respectively.

Two other PRD activists being held at Tangerang Prison near Jakarta, Abdul Muis and Syarifudin, have also been released. Both were captured on July 27 last year for handing out leaflets commemorating the anniversary of the military attack on the Indonesian Democratic Party headquarters in Central Jakarta in 1996.

According to a July 25 report by the daily Kompas, Ahmad Taufik bin Abubakar and Eko Maryadi from the Alliance of Independent Journalists were freed on July 2.

Justice minister Muladi told Kompas the government was considering the release of other PRD prisoners, including PRD chairperson Budiman Sujatmiko. “Consideration will be given on a case by case system”, said Muladi.

A July 26 report by Kompas said that the head of the PRD-affiliated Indonesian People's Solidarity Struggle with the Maubere People, Wilson B. Nurtias, and PRD member Ken Budha have also been given amnesty. However, they have refused to leave Cipinang Prison until all 14 political prisoners there are released.

In a statement, the two said that the latest releases are a “diplomatic manoeuvre” by President Habibie and that there should not be any conditions applied to releases.

Max Lane, national coordinator of Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET) in Australia, said the release of the PRD activists and other political prisoners was a victory for the Indonesian pro-democracy movement and its supporters overseas. He emphasised, however, that “until all the political prisoners, including Xanana Gusmao, Dita Sari, Budiman Sujatmiko and the scores of activists who have been ``disappeared'' are released, the campaign must continue”. ASIET has invited released PRD prisoners, starting with Andi Arief, to visit Australia.

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