[asia-apec 122] Support Democracy in Indonesia

[Alex Chis]

From: achis at igc.apc.org (Alex Chis & Claudette Begin)

[The following is a statement issued by the U.S. political organization
"Solidarity" concerning the recent events in Indonesia. Solidarity endorses
the October 28 International Day of Protest for Human Rights and Democracy
in Indonesia. They ask that you read the background information (below)
about the Indonesian government's state terrorism, and write a protest
letter along the lines indicated. (This material has been taken from ASIET
and Amnesty International UK Section.)]


INDONESIA: AN EMERGENCY APPEAL

Having seen reports and television coverage of the events of the past weeks
in Jakarta, we call on the Indonesian government to:

* release all people detained following the military assault on the
headquarters of the Partai Demokrasi Indonesia (PDI) on 27 July, including
those like Muchtar Pakpahan, later taken into custody;

* release the arrested members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PRD):
Budiman Sujatmiko, Dita Sari, Hussein Pontoh, Mohamed Soleh, Petrus
Hariyanto, I Gusti Astika Anom, Wilson and others;

* end all intervention into the internal affairs of the PDI and restore
recognition of the elected Megawati Sukarnoputri leadership;

* end all repression against the PDI, PRD and other pro-democracy
organizations and permit freedom of assembly and association.

* Encourage trade unions and other organizations to send messages of
protest to the Indonesian government:

Please send to:

1. Indonesian Minister of Justice:

Uahi Utoyo Usman S.H.
Menteri Kehkiman
Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said Kav. 6-7
Kuningan
Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia
Fax: + 62 21 525 3095

2. Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs:

Ali Alatas S.H.
Menteri Luar Negeri
JL Medan Taman Pejambon No 6
Jakarta, Indonesia
Fax: + 62 21 380 5511

3. Indonesian Embassy
2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-775-5200
Fax: 202-775-5365

4. Please send copies of your letters or faxes to ASIET.

ASIET NATIONAL SECRETARIAT:
PO Box 458, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia Phone: 02 690 1032. Fax: 02 690 1381.
E-Mail: asiet at peg.apc.org
Home page: http://www.peg.apc.org/~asiet

NOTE: A focus within trade unions could be to campaign for the release of
Dita Sari and Muchtar Pakpahan, the heads of the only two independent trade
union organizations in Indonesia. Dita Sari of the PRD is president of the
Indonesian Center for Labor Struggles (PPBI), and Muchtar Pakpahan is the
more moderate president of the Indonesian Prosperity Trade Union (SBSI).

BACKGROUND: The Indonesian security forces, dressed as supporters of the
pro-government faction of the Partai Demokrasi Indonesia (PRI), raided the
PRI office in Jakarta on July 27, 1996. This raid was an attempt to remove
supporters of the former party chairwoman, Megawati Sukarnoputri, who had
been ousted by the PDI leadership at a breakaway party congress
orchestrated by the authorities in June. According to Amnesty International
as many as 241 people were arrested as a direct result of the raid and
subsequent riots, at least five--and possibly more--are believed to have
died and up to 90 more are thought to have been wounded.

Since then the Indonesian government has issued threats against individuals
and non-governmental organizations that it alleges played a role in the
riots. The government is blaming the Partai Rakyat Demokratik (PRD) for
masterminding the disturbances and has singled out its members for arrest
on some of the most serious charges, some of which carry the death penalty.

People have been arrested at their homes and while engaging in peaceful
protests. For example, Coen Hussein Pontoh, a leader of the STN, a peasant
union, Dita Sari, president of the PPBI and Mohammad Sholeh, an activist
from the Students in Solidarity with Democracy in Indonesia--and all
members of the PRD--were arrested on July 8 at a demonstration of 20,000
workers protesting wages and working conditions.

In the context of a broadening democratic struggle behind ousted PDI
Megawati Sukarnoputri, the PRD has emerged as a leading force and the
organization most committed to involving the broadest layers of Indonesian
people in the struggle. Consequently, the regime's crackdown has also
focused on the PRD; most of the activists now under arrest--with the
exception of the independent trade union leader, Mochtar Pakpahan--almost
all are members of PRD or their affiliated mass organizations. These
include PRD president Budiman Sujatmiko, PRD secretary-general Petrus
Hariyanto and Dita Sari, president of the trade union organization
affiliated to the PRD. The PRD itself has been outlawed. Today the PRD and
its activists must be defended in order to defend the democratic movement
as a whole.

Some of those arrested are being held in police custody, and some in
military custody. Not all have access to lawyers and some are being held in
isolation.

Meanwhile Megawati Sukarnoputri continues to assert that she is the
legitimate leader of the PRI and has called on the government to allow the
people to decide who they want to support. Over 200 PDI local branches have
begun launching legal action in the courts, making this the largest action
in any political case in Indonesian history.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST FOR INDONESIA

The first major international event in the campaign will be an
International Day of Protest for Human Rights and Democracy in Indonesia
scheduled for October 28. October 28 is the anniversary of the 1928
Indonesian Youth Congress which helped united Indonesia's youth in its
struggle against Dutch colonialism.

Amongst the 150 or so endorsements over the last three weeks from the U.S.
include various branches of the Green Party, from California, to
Massachusetts to New Orleans as well as numerous activists and branches of
the progressive political network and Solidarity.

Leaders and activists from labor groups include Jobs with Justice,
Washington DC., Communication Workers of America, International Union of
Operating Engineers, Washington, DC., Coalition of University Employees,
California, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Immigrant Rights Action
Network, Nashville Tennessee, American federation of Government Employees,
and the Service Employees International Union. Endorsements have also been
sent from a range of community and activist organizations, ranging from the
National Organization of Women to Chicano and Pacific Islander migrant
support organizations.

In Canada, support has come from leaders and activists from the Canadian
Auto Workers Social Justice Fund British Columbia Teachers federation,
Hamilton Coalition against Poverty, "As soon as details of planned October
28 actions in the US and Canada are finalized, we will publicize them in
Australia also, along with other international events."