Rafiqa Qurrata A, Jakarta – The Central Leadership Board of the National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) intends to meet with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to report the numerous forms of terror and intimidation they have been experiencing.

In relation to this plan, Papernas has already submitted a written request to meet with Yudhoyono and they hope that the Presidential Palace will respond quickly to the letter.

“We sent the draft on May 18. We are now waiting for his response”, said Papernas general chairperson Agus Jabo Priyono at the Papernas offices on Jl. Tebet Dalam in South Jakarta on Sunday May 20.

Priyono explained that Papernas has already asked for an audience with the Department of Human Rights and Justice, the House of Representatives Commission III overseeing legal, human rights and security affairs, and the Constitutional Court.

“We are asking for the government to take a clear political stand, which up until now has been ambiguous. If we have indeed violated the law, okay, explain how, which laws? If [we] haven’t violated [the law], then provide protection okay”, complained Priyono.

According to Priyono, every time they have held a Papernas event they have always requested a permit from police. But when Papernas is terrorised, the police instead force them to close down the event. “We have tried to go through the political procedures. If it’s a dead end we will undertake legal proceedings against the closures”, he said. (mly/djo)

[Translated by James Balowski.]