PRESIDENT AGREES TO PARDON 500 CHILD CONVICTS :MINISTER

Jakarta, Feb 18 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has agreed to grant clemency for around 500 child prisoners, Law and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar said here on Thursday.

He said after a cabinet meeting the clemency for the children would be the first of two presidential clemency granting programs.

"The law and human rights ministry will apply for clemency for 500 child detainees in the first stage which will later be followed by a second application," he said.

He said President Yudhoyono had in principle agreed with it but he would still ask for the Supreme Court's advice on it.

He said the clemency for the children would certainly be possible because their crimes were not categorized as ones excluded from clemency according to Government Regulation Number 28 of 2006.

Based on the regulation, corruption, terrorism and narcotic crimes are among those not eligible for clemency.

"With regard to the children it is sure they are not involved in corruption or terrorism," Patrialis said.

The minister said the prison term reduction or clemency to be given by President Yudhoyono will be prioritized for children who committed a crime because of economic pressures.

"We will see. But priority will be given to those who committed a crime because of social or poverty factors, those stealing because of hunger and who have no parents," he said.

In the near future he said his office would also conduct harmonization and synchronization of laws to create a legal system that is more just for the children.