On October 4, as many as 27 detainees at the Metro Jaya Regional Police (Polda) Detention Centre in Jakarta formed a union called the Indonesian Political Prisoners Union (Serikat Tahanan Politik, STP). They formed the union after one of the detainees experienced torture at the detention centre.
The union is chaired by Gejayan Calling (Gejayan Menggil) activist Syahdan Husein. He was named a suspect on suspicion of incitement related to the August demonstration and has been detained since early September 2025.
The aim of the STP is to "accommodate the aspirations of members of the Political Prisoners Union during the ongoing legal process", as well as to act as "an authentic source of information regarding the conditions of members during the detention process".
The union members are also inviting political prisoners throughout Indonesia to join the union. "We invite all political prisoners who have been arrested and have not been released throughout Indonesia to join the Indonesian Political Prisoners Union", said the prisoners.
In relation to the formation of the STP, we, former political prisoners (tapol) and political prisoners convicted by courts (napol) who were victims of authoritarian rule in Indonesia, declare the following:
1. Support and welcome the formation of the Indonesian Political Prisoners Union and the invitation to form the Indonesian Political Prisoners Union in other regions in Indonesia.
2. Condemn the police for intimidating victims during examinations and committing acts of violence during the interrogation process.
3. Demand an end to the criminalisation of activists and the unconditional release of all political prisoners.
This is the statement of former political prisoners and prisoners from the authoritarian regime in Indonesia. Prison does not deter us. Keep fighting!
Jakarta, October 9 2025
Former political prisoners/convicted political prisoners:
1. Tri Agus Siswa Santoso (former Pijar Foundation napol)
2. Petrus H. Harianto (former People’s Democratic Party (PRD) tapol)
3. Wilson Obrigados (former PRD tapol)
4. Ken Budha Kusumandaru (former PRD napol)
5. Surya Anta (Former Papuan napol)
6. Fauzi Isman (former Talangsari Lampung case tapol)
7. Ambrosius Mulait (former Papuan napol)
8. Suroso (former PRD napol)
9. Victor Yeimo (former Papuan tapol)
10. Isti Nugroho (Pramoedya books former napol)
11. Coen Husain Pontoh (former PRD napol)
12. Mahendra Kusumawardhana (former napol for insulting the head of state)
13. Anom Astika (former PRD napol)
Contact person: Wilson Obrigados – 0877 8267 6136
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Mantan Tapol dan Napol Dukung Pembentukan Serikat Tahanan Politik Indonesia".]
