Amnesty International is concerned at the detention and trial of Permadi Satrio Wiwoho, the 55-year-old Chair of the Association of Indonesian Psychics. He was arrested on 19 March 1995 and is currently being tried on blasphemy charges under Article 156(a) of Indonesia’s Criminal Code. He is being held at Wirogunan Prison in Yogyakarta, Central Java. His prosecution is believed to be as a result of remarks he made during a seminar at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta in which he reportedly caused offence to Islam. He was also questioned over remarks he made in an interview with Radio Unisi in which he is said to have predicted a year of political uncertainty for Indonesia. It is believed that his arrest is another example of the government silencing peaceful opposition and Amnesty International considers him to be a prisoner of conscience.
