> * News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International * > AI INDEX: ASA 21/05/98 > 20 JANUARY 1998 > > Indonesia: fears for a renewed crackdown > > This week's bomb explosion in Jakarta could herald a renewed crackdown on > government opponents in Indonesia, as the government grapples with an > economic crisis and forthcoming presidential elections, Amnesty > International said today. > > "The culprits responsible for the bomb ought to be brought to justice. > However the Indonesian authorities should not exacerbate existing tensions > by rounding up peaceful government critics," Amnesty International said. > > During recent weeks the security forces have made clear their > intention to eliminate any opposition to President Suharto being elected to > a seventh term. General Feisal Tanjung, the commander of the armed forces, > recently told journalists that anti-government groups would be "cut down". > > > The first signs of a renewed crackdown, began with the arrests of > Mochamad Faik, Nurussulhi Nawai and three other members of the unofficial > opposition party, the Indonesian United Democratic Party (PUDI) when the > party's office in Malang, East Java, was raided by security forces. > > PUDI's leader, the well-known government critic, Sri Bintang > Pamungkas, is currently on trial in Jakarta under the draconian > Anti-subversion Law for setting up the party. In Indonesia, subversion > carries the death penalty or up to life imprisonment. > > "It looks as if we are about to witness a repeat performance of last > year's parliamentary elections, when the authorities gave the security > forces carte blanche to detain critics," Amnesty International said. > > The government has also reacted to criticism of its handling of the > current economic crisis with threats and intimidation. Currency speculation > and food hoarding have been publicly equated with 'subversion'. Riots > which broke out in Jember, East Java have been blamed on the banned > Communist Party of Indonesia. The media has been taken to task for its > negative reporting and two respected economists have been summoned by the > military intelligence services for their outspoken criticism of the > government. > > "This heavy handed approach will only exacerbate tensions in the long > run," Amnesty International said. "As Indonesia accepts the need for > economic discipline and reform, it should also take steps to relieve > political pressures and bring the human rights situation into line with > international norms and standards." > ..../ends > > > **************************************************************** > You may repost this message onto other sources provided the main > text is not altered in any way and both the header crediting > Amnesty International and this footer remain intact. Only the > list subscription message may be removed. > **************************************************************** > To subscribe to amnesty-L, send a message to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> with > "subscribe amnesty-L" in the message body. To unsubscribe, send a > message to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> with "unsubscribe amnesty-L" in the message > body. If you have problem signing off, contact <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >
