We were tortured, democracy activist reportsOn June 13, three leaders of Indonesia's outlawed People's Democratic Party (PRD) were released from custody. They were Mugianto (who visited Australia in 1996 under the name Robby
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Indonesia in revoltJust six months ago, publicly burning a photograph of the Indonesian dictator Suharto would have meant tempting arrest and a lengthy jail sentence. But over the last week, such scenes have occurred almost
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Amid massive student protests across the country, the Indonesian government has called for "dialogue", and at the same time threatened to use "repressive measures" to stop the demonstrations. But the threats and the
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Activists describe kidnapping, torture"I speak up with the knowledge that I am risking my life", said Indonesian activist Pius Lustrilanang, in testimony before the National Human Rights Commission on April 27, were he
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More than 50 Indonesian activists disappearedAccording to an April 14 report released at a media conference by the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (LBH), 50 Indonesian pro-democracy activists have disappeared since January.
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On April 24, the Indonesian daily Kompas confirmed that Andi Arief, chairperson of Student Solidarity for Indonesian Democracy, which is affiliated to the outlawed People's Democratic Party, is now in police custody. Arief was
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Last bastion of free speech under threatAnyone who has taken a taxi in Indonesia will tell you that taxi drivers are an endless source of information and the latest political gossip, and are a general "barometer" of public
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Wherever there have been dictatorships and resistance to them, the tactic of making people disappear has been used, not just to get rid of problematic individuals, but also as a way of terrorising the broader population,
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In the midst of mass arrests, and the disappearance and killing of scores of pro-democracy activists in Indonesia, anti-Suharto demonstrations continue to escalate. Ignoring threats by the military — who have also pleaded for
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On March 28, Andi Arief, the chairperson of Student Solidarity for Indonesian Democracy (SMID), was abducted at gunpoint from his brother's home in Lampung, South Sumatra. He has not been seen or heard from since. Arief was taken
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Last October, the Far Eastern Economic Review warned, "The strong winds of market demand and the smouldering coals of collusion are likely to keep the fires [in Indonesia] raging for many dry seasons to come". Three months later,
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Indonesia: Suharto prepares for siegeIn the midst of nationwide anti-Suharto demonstrations by students rioting over increasing prices and the arrest of scores of pro-democracy activists, the March 10 evening news report on