Indonesia -Joke of the week Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source - jclancy@peg.apc.org Indonesia -Joke of the week Sydney Morning Herald US puts pressure on Jakarta to stop Timor killings By MARK RILEY, Herald Correspondent in New York The United States has issued a blunt warning to Indonesia to end the violence in East Timor, amid growing concern that continued killings may derail the territory's historic autonomy vote. The Assistant Secretary of State for Asia and the Pacific, Mr Stanley Roth, said the US was helping to apply "vast pressure" on Jakarta to haul its military into line and clamp down on the militia responsible for ongoing murders in Timor. The US was particularly concerned that assurances being given by Indonesia on security were not being converted into action. "It seems that what the Indonesian Government's stated policy directs is almost irrelevant," Mr Roth told a meeting of the Australian American Association. "It says it takes a hands-off view, that it will have a fair and open vote and that the military will not affect the outcome. That's fine. But the reality on the ground is different." Mr Roth said there was strong evidence the Indonesian Army was allowing pro-Jakarta paramilitary groups to conduct their killing sprees with complete impunity, putting the autonomy vote at peril. "The major challenge now for Indonesia is to get the situation under control and allow the East Timorese ... a fair vote, free of violence and intimidation." President Clinton wrote to President Habibie last week outlining his concerns over East Timor and calling on him to do more to bring the militia to heel. Mr Roth said the US was also keeping in constant contact with Australia, sharing information and ideas on a range of issues concerning Indonesia. The Secretary of State, Dr Albright, planned to discuss Timor with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Downer, in the next few days. Now some facts..... ************** interlink: LL:Solidarity with Mugianto, Nesar Patria and Aan PRD prisoners are often tortured and rarely released. However, coordinated international protest by a broad range of forces may provide them with some protection against further torture and help guarantee them access to lawyers and the media. In solidarity, Max Lane -(Australia). A special appeal on two matters 1. the illegal arrest of Mugianto, Nesar Patria and Aan Rusdianto, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, and 2. the deteriorating health in prison of Petrus Haryanto. Dear friends, Mugianto, Nesar Patria and Aan Rusidanto On Friday March 13, three leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PRD) of Indonesia were captured in a flat in Jakarta. The three leaders are Mugianto, Nesar Patria and Aan Rusdianto. According to military and police spokespersons they are to be charged under the 1962 subversion law, which provides for a maximum penalty of death, as well as under another law pertaining to conspiracy to commit banned activities. Police and military spokespersons have been quoted in the daily newspaper Kompas, on March 19, as stating that the three were guilty of "putting forward demands and carrying out mass actions opposed to the government" and of carrying out "political actions such as meetings, political discussions and organising the masses." They were also accused of having "communistic" literature in their possession. They were also accused of being members of a banned organisation. The PRD was formally banned by decree in 1997. It has been under a de facto ban since July, 1996 when Armed Forces headquarters issued an order for the arrest of all PRD personnel. However, the PRD has continued top organise and be at the forefront of the struggle against the Suharto dictatorship. Petrus Haryanto The International Office of the PRD has received information that Secretary-general of the PRD, Petrus Haryanto, currently in Cipinang prison is suffering deteriorating health. He has asked to be hospitalised in a hospital that had adequate medical facilities. As yet his request has not been responded to by the prison authorities. APPEAL On behalf of Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor, we appeal to your organisation to: (1) Organise members of parliament, other community figures, political parties and solidarity groups to make direct appeals to the Indonesian Embassies and Consulates for the release of Mugianto, Nesar Patria and Aan Rusdianto and for Petrus to be hospitalised in a hospital of his choice. (2) Organise public appeals to your national governments to demand the release of Mugianto, Nesar Patria and Aan Rusdianto and all other political prisoners in Indonesia. (3) Organise protest actions outside Indonesia Embassies, consulates or other facilities symbolising the Suharto dictatorship. We also appeal to you to inform ASIET of any and all activities that you undertake so that these news of these actions can be sent on back to the PRD in Indonesia. A final appeal. The PRD has lost a safe house, laptops and other equipment as a result of these arrests. The underground PRD, which provides the primary systematically organised structure carrying out political education and organisation for the democratic movement in Indonesia, needs greater resources to be able to carry on its work while avoiding capture by the increasingly repressive security apparatus. ASIET appeals for all and any donations that can be sent on to the democratic movement. Donations can be sent to: ASIET, P.O. Box 458, Broadway 2007, Australia. Appendix: Excerpts from South China Morning Post article South China Morning Post Thursday, March 19, 1998 Indonesia Three students face subversion charges JENNY GRANT in Jakarta Three Indonesian students will be charged with subversion after police allegedly found "communist material" in their apartment, in the latest round of charges against political activists. Jakarta police chief Major-General Hamami Nata alleged the three also belonged to the student wing of the outlawed People's Democracy Party whose leaders have been jailed for up to 13 years. "They are activists of a banned organisation and they are liable to prosecution. They will be charged with subversion," said General Nata. Subversion carries the death penalty. The three men have been identified only as MY, 25, AR, 24 and NP, 28. Military officers arrested the trio in their east Jakarta flat on Friday. They were originally arrested in connection with a bomb plot, but that charge has been dropped. General Nata claimed the three students were linked with other students arrested in January for making bombs. Police claim they found books containing articles on communism and documents on the small left-wing pro-democracy group. "The suspects sought to garner mass support to subvert the Government," General Nata said. Authorities raise the spectre of communism at times of political unrest or economic trouble. The Government blamed a coup attempt in 1965 on the Indonesian Communist Party. President Suharto banned the party in 1966. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytpac-06.02.99-02:59:23-8600