JAKARTA, May 25: President B J Habibie announced on Monday that the Indonesian government had amnestied two prominent political prisoners, activist Sri Bintang Pamungkas and labour union leader Muchtar Pakpahan.``It has now been decided to give amnesty... to Muchtar Pakpahan and Sri Bintang Pamungkas,'' Justice Minister Muladi said after a cabinet meeting.Calls have been mounting for the unconditional release of political prisoners since the downfall of former President Suharto last Thursday.The politician and union leader had earlier joined other political prisoners in saying they would reject a simple amnesty, as it would imply that they had been forgiven wrongdoing. But the charges against them have effectively been dropped.
Meanwhile, Habibie on Monday pledged to hold elections as soon as possible, government spokesman Akbar Tanjung said.
``The President said that the government is prepared to hold elections as soon as possible, meaning elections can be held when the required laws are formallylegalised,'' Tanjung said after the first meeting of the new cabinet.
Tanjung said that the pledge had been made after a meeting between Habibie and six pro-reform leaders at his residence on Saturday. He declined to give a time-frame for the fresh poll saying that it all depended on the completion of the necessary laws for the new elections.
``If they can be completed in one week, the President can do it (the poll) as soon as possible,'' Tanjung said.
Reform leaders, who have been calling for the fresh elections, have said that a package of laws governing the polls, political parties and the composition of the legislature needed to be reviewed first.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
