JAKARTA, Indonesia - Indonesian prisoners will be granted annual sentence reductions Sunday, but for the first time those convicted of terrorism, illegal logging, corruption and drug-related crimes won't benefit.
Untung Sugiyono, the director general of correctional institutions, said at least 55,000 prisoners who have completed at least a third of their sentences would have several weeks or months shaved off to mark Independence Day.
Another 5,700 will walk free.
In the past, all inmates were eligible _ except those on death row or serving life in prison _ with the government arguing that prisoners all had the same constitutional rights.
That sparked controversy, especially among victims of terrorist attacks in the world's most populous Muslim nation, where four suicide bombings since 2002 have left more than 240 dead _ many of them foreign tourists.
Many Indonesians are also growing weary of watching corrupt officials and illegal loggers, who become rich while destroying the environment, escape harsh punishment. A soaring drug epidemic, meanwhile, has led to kidnappings, killings and other crimes.
"The government has decided that certain crimes need to be treated differently, that some have a wider impact on society," said Sugiyono, adding that the total number of convicted prisoners today is around 82,000.
Another 50,000 are behind bars awaiting trial.
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20080815...s-64ed358.html
Indonesian prisoners to get sentences reduced 
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