Green Left Weekly's Melanie Sjoberg spoke to People's Democratic Party (PRD) activist Wilson, while waiting in a holding cell at the South Jakarta Court on May 26.
The trials of PRD activists arrested since the Suharto government's July 27 crackdown are continuing in Jakarta. Twelve members of the PRD have already been sentenced under the anti-subversion laws to between 18 months and 13 years imprisonment.
Wilson and Anom are being detained in Jakarta's Cipinang prison along with about 40 other political prisoners including PRD president Budiman Sudjatmiko, PRD general secretary Petrus Haryanto, and East Timor resistance leader Xanana Gusmao. Trade union leader Mochtar Pakpahan has had his trial postponed due to his hospitalisation in February.
Wilson explained that the political prisoners are kept separated from the other 1800 prisoners, and have minimal communication amongst themselves. Budiman and Gusmao are kept in isolation. They are permitted access to newspapers and books, but any political content or criticism of the government is censored. Their visitors are carefully screened. Wilson told Green Left Weekly that the Red Cross visits every three months to check their health.
Petrus is suffering from a hernia and Anom has been diagnosed with tuberculosis. Wilson said that the medical treatment was the same for everyone: "regardless of the problem, take some vitamins".
Wilson said the spirits of the detained pro-democracy activists are high. They are kept well-informed and were inspired by the developments around the elections.
Asked about Indonesia's lack of democracy, Wilson told Green Left Weekly: "Old people are running the country; old people who are taking the wealth and controlling the people by corruption and repression. Suharto jails the young people because they oppose the government. Suharto will need to jail all the youth to stop us fighting against this undemocratic system."
The trial of Wilson and Anom has provided a public platform for the activists to expose the bankruptcy of Suharto's political system. Wilson explained that people needed to understand that the whole system must be changed. "There is no right to organise, no right to criticise, no right to think or speak freely", he said.
East Timorese resistance leader Xanana Gusmao has been called as a witness by the PRD defence team. The military has prevented his appearance. "The struggle of the East Timorese is part of the same struggle, for democracy in Indonesia", Wilson declared. The PRD is the only party in Indonesia that fully supports the East Timorese people's right to a referendum on self-determination.
Asked about his views on the current election, Wilson laughed and pointed to his T-shirt which he had hand-painted in prison with the words "Boikot Pemilu" (Boycott the election!). He explained that only three parties are legally permitted and must support the government philosophy. All the candidates are screened by government officials.
Wilson urged people abroad to support the democratic struggle with greater intensity and to publicise the situation of the people in Indonesia and East Timor. "Boikot Pemilu! Viva East Timor!" he cried, punching his fist in the air.