On 5 March 1997 former parliamentarian Sri Bintang Pamungkas was detained under the Anti-subversion Law. His arrest is believed to be related to his sending out of some greeting cards to mark the Moslem festival of Idul Fitri. The cards contain the three point agenda of the recently formed United Democratic Party of Indonesia (PUDI). It is believed this is an illustration of the Indonesian government’s intention to silence its opponents in the run up to the May 1997 parliamentary elections. Amnesty International considers Sri Bintang Pamungkas to be a prisoner of conscience and is calling for his immediate and unconditional release.
