MUCHTAR PAKPAHAN RELEASED
but he call for release of all political prisoners in Indonesia


The Information Related to the Detention of Muchtar Pakpahan

Muchtar Pakpahan, 43, is the president of the Indonesian Prosperity Trade Union (SBSI), an independent trade union in Indonesia founded in 1992. Pakpahan was arrested on 29 July 1996 and initially charged with subversion for his alleged involvement in the 27 July 1996 opposition demonstration. His trial opened on 12 December 1996 and still continues in the Jakarta District Court. Pakpahan is being prosecuted on six charges. The prosecutors have referred very little in court to the 27 July 1996 riot, however, as Pakpahan cannot be linked to the violence. The authorities have failed to find evidence of Pakpahan's involvement in the riots but refuse to drop the charges.