JAKARTA: Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto will pardon tens of thousands of prisoners ranging from activists convicted of defamation to those jailed in the easternmost province of Papua for criticising the government, a minister said on Friday (Dec 13).
Law minister Supratman Andi Agtas said some 44,000 prisoners nationwide might get an amnesty on humanitarian grounds and to help relieve the country’s overcrowded jails.
The number is equivalent to around 30 per cent of all prisoners in the Southeast Asian country, Andi said.
The prisoners to be pardoned include people convicted in defamation and hate speech cases, including those who defamed the president under Indonesia’s Electronic Information and Transaction Law, Andi added.
Around 18 activists jailed for exercising their freedom of expression to criticise the authorities or staging protests in Papua will be among those freed, said Andi.
“This is part of the effort to reconcile with our friends in Papua. The government has the good intention to make Papua more peaceful,” he said.
Papua came under Indonesian rule in 1969 after a controversial United Nations-backed referendum that many Papuans say did not reflect the will of local people.
Discussions of Papuan independence is a sensitive issue for Indonesia’s government, which has long insisted that the plebiscite was legitimate.
Others set to be freed include those convicted of drug offences who are not dealers as well as prisoners with chronic diseases such as HIV.
The government is now finalising the plan, including drawing up lists of prisoner names. It will also discuss the plan with the parliament.
Prabowo also suggested that those who are pardoned and are still of a productive age should get involved in his programme to achieve food self sufficiency or becomes part of the military reserve force, said Andi.
Prisons in Indonesia are notoriously overcrowded, with experts saying this is partly due to an emphasis on incarceration rather than rehabilitation of people convicted of drug-related offences under the country’s strict narcotics laws. - Reuters
On October 17, 2023 Dave Sprigg and Sam Wheeldon created a memorial at Rheinmetall Weapons Factory at Ipswich. The memorial was in memory of those West Papuans killed in the slow genocide of the Indonesian military occupation. Both were charged with trespass and wilful damage. Pleas of not guilty were entered into last month at Ipswich Court.
Rheinmetall weapons, munitions and armoured vehicles are at the heart of the “slow-genocide” in West Papua.
Recruitment of Technicians and Engineers
Rheinmetall is recruiting young factory technicians and engineers for genocide, building weapons in Brisbane’s western suburbs.
Mr Sprigg said “young people are better suited to building safe housing or building renewables infrastructure for a successful energy transition. We need engineers engineering for life – not for death and destruction.”
The Queensland government have been central to funding and enabling two Rheinmetall factories in Queensland. In Maryborough, a power substation was built explicitly for Rheinmetall at the cost of $9 million dollars.
100 armoured vehicles, components and munitions from the Ipswich and Maryborough weapons factories will be exported to Germany for the US/German genocides and other unnecessary wars.
Mr Sprigg said “Genocides are required for the profitability of the weapons exports industry. Genocides are part of the business model. Genocides must be orchestrated and facilitated. They never occur without the permission and organisation of states.”
David Sprigg also said: “Some rich people discovered there was gold in West Papua and decided the people would be colonised. West Papuan’s independence was stolen from them then. Now there’s an Indonesian military occupation in West Papua. It’s a brutal regime and Rheinmetall is crucial in the weaponising that occupation.
“Furthermore, Rheinmetall is arming Israel directly both before and after the beginning of the current genocide in Palestine. It’s important that we act strongly to stop the flow of weapons to genocide”.
At the event on 17th October, Rheinmetall security workers who are ex ADF, were seen pushing protesters to the ground. Video and photos of the day’s actions can be found here.
DROPBOX LINK FOR PHOTOS and videos.
"The President will grant amnesty to several prisoners who we are currently assessing with the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections," he said at a press conference at the Presidential Palace on Friday.
The grant of amnesty is meant to reduce overcapacity at correctional institutions and is based on humanitarian considerations, he added.
According to Agtas, amnesty will be given to prisoners who suffer from long-term illnesses, such as HIV/AIDS, and those with mental disorders.
Several people imprisoned in cases connected to the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE), including those convicted of insulting the head of state, will also be given amnesty, he added.
In addition, prisoners linked to cases in Papua, who were not involved in armed action, will also receive the amnesty.
The minister said that the idea is a part of reconciliation efforts in Papua. A total of 18 prisoners involved in Papua-related cases will get amnesty.
"The cases are mostly activist and (form of) expression. This is part of our efforts to make reconciliation efforts with friends in Papua. This demonstrates a good faith to make Papua more peaceful," he added.
Furthermore, prisoners involved in narcotics cases will also be given amnesty by the President.
"Prisoners in drug cases who should receive rehabilitation will also be given amnesty. However, the exact number will be conveyed after we conduct a further assessment," he said.
Agtas added that based on data from the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, there are around 44 thousand prisoners who meet the criteria for amnesty.
He informed that President Prabowo has approved the amnesty. Furthermore, the amnesty proposal will be submitted to the House of Representatives (DPR) for consideration.
"We will ask the DPR to consider this proposal. We will wait after we officially submit it to the House for their consideration," the minister added.
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Translator: Fathur Rochman, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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