> Date: 02 Oct 1997 10:42:34 +0000 (GMT)
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Reply-To: "Conference act.indonesia" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: Recipients of indonesia-act <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: UA: PPHI banned, SBSI may soon foll
>
> From: tapol (Tapol)
> Subject: UA: PPHI banned, SBSI may soon follow
>
> URGENT ACTION
>
> TO PROTEST THE BANNING OF THE PPBI, THE STN AND ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS
> AND TO PROTEST THE POSSIBLE BANNING OF THE SBSI
>
>
> On 29 September, the Indonesian Ministry of the Interior announced that the
> PRD, the People's Democratic Party, and all its associated organisations,
> have been banned. This includes the PPBI, the Indonesian Workers Struggle
> Centre, and the STN, the Indonesian Peasants Association.
>
> The chairperson of the PPBI, Dita Indah Sari, is now in prison, serving a
> five-year sentence, after having been found guilty of subversion, for her
> activities in support of workers' rights. The general secretary of the PPBI,
> Ignatius Damianus Pranowo who was also charged with subversion is serving a
> nine-year sentence. The chairperson of the STN, Coen Husein Pontoh, is
> serving a three and a half year sentence, also on charges of subversion.
>
> The banning of these organisations is in flagrant violation of the freedom
> of association as upheld in Article 22 of the International Covenant on
> Civil and Political Rights and in ILO Convention No 87 Concerning Freedom of
> Association and Protection of the Right to Organise.
>
> As two of the organisations associated with the PRD most of whose leaders
> are now serving sentences for subversion, the PPBI and the STN have been
> forced underground and many of their activists are now in hiding. The ban
> will make their circumstances even more precarious.
>
> When announcing the ban, an official of the Interior Ministry told the press
> that other organisations, including the unrecognised trade union, the
> Indonesian Welfare Trade Union, the SBSI, are likely to be banned in the
> near future. SBSI leader Muchtar Pakpahan, who has been hospitalised for
> more than six months, is now on trial for subversion. His demand to be
> allowed to go abroad for treatment has been rejected by the authorities.
>
> On 19 September, the Second Congress of the SBSI was forced to disperse
> after police raided the premises.
>
> We call on you to register your protest in the strongest terms against the
> banning of the PPBIand the STN, along with the PRD and its other associated
> organisations. We call on you also to strongly condemn any move by the
> Indonesian Government to ban the SBSI.
>
> RECOMMENDED ACTION
>
> Please write :
>
> 1. Protesting the banning of the PRD, the PPBI, the STN and other
> associated organisations.
>
> 2. Calling for the release of all leaders of these organisations convicted
> on charges of subversion.
>
> 3. Warning the Indonesian Government against banning the SBSI and
> protesting at the banning of its Second Congress on 19 September.
>
> 4. Calling for the release of Muchtar Pakpahan, leader of the SBSI, who is
> now on trial for subversion.
>
>
> Please address your protests to:
>
> 1. Minister of the Interior
> (Ret'd) General Yogie S. Memed,
> Jl Medan Merdeka Utara No 7,
> Central Jakarta
> Fax: 00 62-21 323 577
>
> 2. Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs
> Ali Alatas S. H.
> Menteri Luar Negeri
> Jl. Medan Taman Pejambon No. 6
> Jakarta, Indonesia
> Fax: (62) 21-380-5511/360-517/345-7782/360-541
>
> 3. National Commission on Human Rights
> Prof. Dr. Baharuddin Lopa
> Sekretaris Jenderal
> Komisi Nasional Hak Azasi Manusia (Komnas HAM)
> Jl. Latuharhary No. 4B
> Menteng, Jakarta Pusat
> Indonesia
> Telephone/Fax: (62) 21-392-5227
> E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> You should also address your protests to the Indonesian ambassador in your
> own country.
>
> -------------------
>
> TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign,
> 111 Northwood Road,
> Thornton Heath,
> Surrey CR7 8HW
> Phone: 0181 771-2904
> Fax: 0181 653-0322
> E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
