Office of the Historian

208. Telegram From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State1

Jakarta, May 9, 1978, 1035Z

6004. Subject: Phased Release of Detainees.

1. We have queried Australian Embassy here on Australian press reports of GOI decision to proceed with phased release of detainees held for association with 1965 attempted Communist coup.2 Australian EmbOffs inform us that two Australian correspondents had learned, probably from FonDept source that up to 5,000 prisoners would be released on August 17, Indonesian National Day, of whom up to 2,000 would be from Buru Island detention center. The accelerated releases were attributed to the fact that last year’s releases had proceeded smoothly and releasees had had no trouble resettling or finding jobs.

2. Minister of State/State Secretary Sudharmono told Ambassador today (May 9) that the Australian report is basically correct and that there is agreement “in principle” along these lines. While noting that decision was not absolutely firm, Sudharmono expected “no obstacles to be raised.” Comment: Sudharmono’s remarks suggest that agreement has been worked out by the appropriate GOI officials but does not yet have Suharto’s final chop.

3. A lower level source close to top military authorities said that Indonesia plans to release the 10,000 detainees this year in four stages. Any one group could include as many as 3,000 detainees or as few as 1,000, but the total for all four would definitely be 10,000. Our source said that at least one of the groups would be released before August 17.

4. We have been in direct contact with Vice President’s party on this development and suggest Department not, rpt not, publicly confirm Australian reports until further instructions are received from Vice President.

Masters
  1. Source: Carter Library, Donated Historical Material, Mondale Papers, Foreign Trip Files, Box 130, [Vice President’s Trip to Asia 4/29–5/10/78]: Indonesia—Diplomatic Trip Cables [2/14–5/23/78]. Confidential; Immediate. Sent for information to Canberra; sent for information Immediate to Wellington for the Vice President’s party.↩
  2. For documentation on the 1965 coup, see Foreign Relations, 1964–1968, vol. XXVI, Indonesia; Malaysia-Singapore; Philippines.↩