This media briefing examines Indonesia’s electoral process and the threat posed to freedom of expression and association. It contains five appeal cases which exemplify the pattern of arrests, harassment and intimidation marking these elections: 1. The detention of Sri Bintang Pamungkas since 5 March under the Anti-subversion Law for sending out greeting cards calling for political change and a boycott of the elections; 2. The imprisonment of three young student activists, Petrus Bima Nugraha, Herny Sualang and Ilham Syah (Iing), since 3 March for their activities in support of an election boycott and political change; 3. The arrest and ill-treatment of student participants in peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations in Yogyakarta in April 1997; 4. The imprisonment on charges of incitement of Afifudin Musytari Hambali al-Hafidz, a Moslem ulema (cleric) under the “Hate-sowing Articles” 154 and 160 of the Indonesian Criminal Code; 5. The harassment and intimidation of the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP).
