After 12 Years Freedom (Post-Courier, 19 Jan 1978)

=== [PDF page 1] === Papua New Guinea Post-Courier (Port Moresby: 1969 - 1981), Thursday 19 January 1978, page 5 H L L By GEORGE OLIVER politicalprisoners just The 10,000 freed ceremonies were camps throughout first publicly the held at a number sprawling Indonesia archipelago. grown three the membership an oath of allegiance become largest swear the million,communist state party outside the all a c tand Government's against them. Its ions Thento they leave. the the for Java, take serious power the traditional the credible version is that the coup an internal revolt army However, was expected the was a leadership. army sail journey influence the challenge Moluccas, Surabaya by boat increasing government of PresidentSoekarno allowed were Some, set Soviet China. Union distant prison of Buru in island had PKI the and condone from released week. more detainees had been held 12 years, since an Many for attempted against officers middle-ranking destroy government coup tried the the late leadership the the President Indonesian Soekarno. Army. The officialversion events of that of the notorious night 1965, September, that the senior of the Onegenerals most escape the plotters' the sword then was General Party Soeharto, who moved Communist (PKI) restore quickly order was reestablish Jakarta, and overthrow Government. Indonesian trying little-known the the Members bodyguard Presidential and kidnapped six the generals. that National Library of Australia the loyalty the the military President. murdered senior year Soeharto Within had Soekarno replaced time the President, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article250329420 === [PDF page 2] === Papua New Guinea Post-Courier (Port Moresby: 1969 - 1981), Thursday 19 January 1978, page 5 (2) the coup. positionhe has occupied since. ever level suspects High says Government ofWhatever September 30 weredirectly are coup, no disputing Category A, of are nearly aftermath, whom figures. 2000. It planned except as regards the truth the involved the there there the inquisition Abegan massive which bring tried the all those 800 have been and of groups regarded before a PKI members rate court of 200 a year. consists as sympathetic communism came indirectly ensued A massacre believed which as half a many communists others killed. were put them prisoners Most CategoryB the weremembers associated one of PKI or its organisations the Gerwani women's sure million—noone exact and Pemuda movement the the arrested, were arrests new number and continued 10 years after more the event. Rakyat, young communists. former There are also the Chinese members people'sorganisation the Though the prescribed, the that trial. een wquarters such half and of a evidence million and Somewhere three than Category those said to have of involvement of implicated the been directly the coup but against plot. whom there insufficient suspicion under have not already perhaps tried— PKI was leftwing Baperki,society writers'union the LEKRA, Government federation still believes pockets of communist and activity exist union the trade SOBSI peasants' BTI. third group Category C, were de- The country. they continued Muslim this reason For justify the detention of suspected communists the sympathisers, and sympathisers involved plot. The that not directly the Government this claims all vast category majority have now never having been released. trial. been brought latest releases The detention Prisonersheld the throughout come camps wake of a policy announcement Ind o n e s i a are three 1976 by categories, divided into December the the county's the head denoting security they bureau degree which them implicated were National Library of Australia the Kopkamtib,Admiral http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article250329420 === [PDF page 3] === Papua New Guinea Post-Courier (Port Moresby: 1969 - 1981), Thursday 19 January 1978, page 5 (3) the Government release all planned holding political than more any prisoners other country, believes CategoryB prisoners International. by 1979. Amnesty report released condemns Some in2500 were Thethe continued December detention of untried 1976 and 10,000 December and prisoners describes 1977. thousand Ten freed are each the process of next two completely extra-legal years. delay in monopoly". the The makingmilitary releases, promised AlthoughAmnesty's, imprisonment Indonesia. according Sudomo, the about Admiral agitation and adoption because of its the unemployment Indonesia problem the that joblessness and fear age discour willfrom prisoners their the reforming Indonesian sponsored has prisoners prisoners conscience, clearly irritated President Soeharto's ways. pressures Government,other have also cited the influential may been more about the that bringing ensure Government releases. for programmed budget isi liavailable r e h a b ation and Even before President transmigration of released Jimmy Carter's rights' detainees. clarion human the the sounded, call was One most critics had been persistent of US Congress increasing the Indonesian showing detentions the the need for the concern Londonbased scale rights human organisation and 1977 about of politicaldetention Indonesia. Peace PrtaewinnerThe decisionof President Nobel International. administration Amnesty Carter's cut Earlier the aid military from Indonesia the 1978 has endorsed fact that the 148-page report on political about imprisonment Pointing the serious concern deprivation rights. And,moresurreptitiously, Government statements numbers compared its of human Indonesia. the inconsistency the detained, withadmitted assurances Amnesty suggest from releases, International that the real number detention could be as high as 100,000. National Library of Australia about before agreeing its Soeharto continue Foodto Peace program releases for Indonesia. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article250329420 === [PDF page 4] === Papua New Guinea Post-Courier (Port Moresby: 1969 - 1981), Thursday 19 January 1978, page 5 (4) its achieve uf f grain. self-s projected c i e n c.v in program so, too, have factors. countries domestic political other But have to toe appeased this year Early which include the bloc, Eastern European the Sovietand particular coup re-election Soeharto faces third time, Union.Since attempt the of 1965 Indonesia's for recent relations face unrest,particularly students, suggests some opposition. among will countries year's withcommunist Though have been cool, general election, which and for paved weresuspended allegedly way China,whichwas vote, gave Presidential renewed last the implicated the the government coup. But set support, lately and has there Indonesia anti-government too, development the countries of EasternEurope. the Though massive a signficant thaw increasingly has enjoyed aid from the was vote, showing strong certain opposition regions government policies. the Indonesian latest Overseas have been deniesreleases Government cautiously welcomed. head pressure has But, Amnesty's research clearly of Asia Huang sensitive points out, that international led thereleases, increasing criticism. Just the before releases the doors of the county's detention camps journalists and diplomats themselves for see that allegations conditions harsh ill-founded. were And Wenhcien manyuntried detainees remain. further expressed Admiral open unease about precise threw Sudomo the lattest release nature theof the since government admitted has that of those to many freed will moved areas avoid exacerbating new the intense release overcrowding the maiss itself was made of a spectacle something islands central and on the of Java Bali. the are fears Security Therefor with release himself presiding Chief over one ceremony camp these release prison transfer form Sumatra. North diplomats which were of detention in ina area the international But pressure has had some National Library of Australia prisoners only maymean another transmigration invited. that outer islands. Indonesian the Clearly massrelease http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article250329420 === [PDF page 5] === Papua New Guinea Post-Courier (Port Moresby: 1969 - 1981), Thursday 19 January 1978, page 5 (5) development, but not likely campaign freedom Indonesia's critics are their ease for complete for all political detainees. National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article250329420