Suwarjono, Jakarta – On Thursday March 25, scores of activists from the People’s Lawyers Union (Serikat Pengacara Rakyat, SPR) and the Popular Youth Movement (Gerakan Pemuda Kerakyatan, GPK) went to the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) offices in Central Jakarta. They asked the institution to pay more attention to and take serious action to ensure the release of all political prisoners.

The activists arrived at around 11am and were received by Komnas HAM member, Taheri Noor. During the meeting, Komnas HAM promised to discuss SPR’s and GPK’s request at its plenary meeting. According to SPR’s and GPK’s records, there are five political prisoners who are currently in detention.

The five are Edward Noya, an activist from the University of Indonesia, who was arrested by Jakarta police last Friday following the burning of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, United Development Party and Golkar Party flags.

The others are Yoyo and Mahendra, who set fire to a photograph of President Megawati Sukarnoputri in Yogyakarta, Central Java, on April 28, 2003, and Iwan Irama Putra and Herlina, who were arrested in Banda Aceh after being accused of being involved with the Free Aceh Movement. (zal)

[Translated by James Balowski.]