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Abstract

In May 2015, in an effort to foster peace in the restive Papua and West Papua Provinces, Indonesian President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo granted clemency to five political prisoners, releasing them from sentences ranging from 20 years to life. The president also stated that there would be ‘a follow-up granting clemency or amnesty to other [political prisoners] in other regions’ (Jakarta Post, 10 May 2015). However, with up to 50 political prisoners still incarcerated in prisons around Indonesia (mostly Papuan and Moluccan separatists), Jokowi’s selective release policy faces several legal and political obstacles. This article outlines the various options open to Jokowi in facilitating future political prisoner releases (including amnesty, clemency, remissions and conditional release), the advantages and disadvantages of each, before suggesting an acceptable way forward for all parties.

Bahasa Abstract

Pada Mei 2015, dalam upaya untuk mencapai perdamaian di Provinsi Papua dan Papua Barat, Presiden Indonesia Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo memberikan grasi kepada lima narapidana politik, melepaskan mereka dari hukuman yang beragam dari mulai 20 tahun hingga seumur hidup. Presiden juga menjelaskan bahwa akan ada pemberian grasi atau amnesti kepada narapidana politik di wilayah lain’ (Jakarta Post, 10 Mei 2015). Namun demikian, dengan masih adanya 50-an narapidana politik masih dipenjara di lembaga pemasyarakatan di seluruh Indonesia (paling banyak separatis Papua dan Maluku), kebijakan pelepasan Jokowi menghadapi beberapa tantangan hukum dan politis. Tulisan ini membahas pilihan terbuka bagi Jokowi untuk memfasilitasi pelepasan narapidana politik (termasuk amnesti, grasi, remisi, dan pembebasan bersyarat), keuntungan dan kerugian masing-masing cara, sebelum memberikan jalan yang dapat diterima oleh seluruh pihak.

References

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