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Govt urged to ease inmate release procedures
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Stand up for rights: Prisoners at the Bulu women's penitentiary in Semarang, Central Java, urge the government to ease inmate release procedures during the Kartini Day celebration on April 21. (JP/Suherdjoko)
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risoners serving sentences at the Bulu women's penitentiary in Semarang, Central Java, have called on the government to revise its regulation on procedures for release.
Conveying their demand during Kartini Day on Friday, the prisoners said the tough requirements imposed by Government Regulation (PP) No. 99/2012 on the rules and procedures for the fulfilment of prisoners’ rights had hampered their wish to get immediate releases. Hence, they hoped the government could remove PP 99.
Wearing low-cut kebaya blouses (a traditional Javanese attire), several inmates attending the Kartini Day celebration wrote messages that read “Hapus PP 99” (Revoke PP 99) right on their chests.
Most of the inmates wore kebaya, songket (a traditional woven textile), or sarong during the celebration. Also, their hair was elaborately styled and their faces were painted.
“We want the removal of PP 99. To get a prison release, we must be able to show evidence of being justice collaborators. This is very hard for us. At least this regulation must be revised,” a female inmate told The Jakarta Post.
Semarang deputy mayor Hevearita Gunaryanti Rahayu held a dialogue with the prisoners during her visit to the penitentiary on Friday, but she apparently did not comment about the demands. “They can produce bags, pillow cases and batik shirts. It’s amazing,” she said.
“We [the Central Java administration] will help them. We will market their handicraft products, but they have to consistently produce their products.” (ebf)
