- Title: INDONESIA: GENERAL NASUTION APPEALS FOR DEMOCRACY AND GREATER HUMAN RIGHTS.
- Date: 7th December 1981
- Summary: JAKARTA, INDONESIA 1967 (FILE REUTERS) 1967 (MUTE) (MONO) GV Troops patrol streets of Jkarta. (2 SHOTS) GV Troops in streets checking pedestrians and motorcyclists. (3 SHOTS) SV Troops boarding bus and checking passengers and people on scooters. (5 SHOTS)
- Embargoed: 22nd December 1981 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: JAKARTA, INDONESIA
- Country: Indonesia
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA62AHHQPT6F0JJB4C30TGD681A
- Story Text: INTRODUCTION: In Indonesia, a veteran army commander has called for a greater degree of democracy and more human rights.It came from General Abdul Haris Nasution.Indonesia is preparing for elections on May next year, but General Nasution, says they're too limited, and too late.A former army Chief of Staff and Defence Minister, General Nasution has frequently criticised the military dominated government.
SYNOPSIS: March, 1967, and the military government of General Suharto was tightening its grip on Indonesia.It had seized power one year earlier, following a bloody Communist uprising.The rebellion was defeated and the army cracked down on suspected sympathisers.Curfews were imposed, roadblocks manned, and a wave of arrests continued for months.The then President, Dr.Sukarno, was suspected of complicity in the rebellion and was removed from office.In his place was the powerful People's Consultative Congress, headed by General Suharto.Among its members, General Nasution.Nasution had originally been a Sukarno protege, rising to become army head and then defence minister.But during the uprising his daughter was murdered, and he readily joined the anti-Sukarno groups.
Jakarta, 1981, and relations have soured.General Nasution now believes President Suharto has not moved fast enough to restore the democracy he says they were fighting for in 1966.Only 39 per cent of the parliament (MPR) are elected.The others are appointed by the President.The General explained his criticism in an interview with Peter Griffiths of Reuters. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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