Bintang complains to rights commission<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Legislator Sri Bintang Pamungkas paid a visit to
\nthe office of the National Commission on Human Rights yesterday
\nto complain about a violation of his rights during a preliminary
\npolice investigation of his alleged role in recent anti-Indonesia
\ndemonstrations in Germany.<\/p>\n
\"The government and mass media have violated the principle of
\npresumption of innocence by disseminating biased information over
\nrecent anti-government demonstrations in Germany,\" he told the
\nCommission's deputy chairman, Marzuki Darusman.<\/p>\n
Marzuki was accompanied by another commission member, Bambang
\nW. Suharto.<\/p>\n
Bintang addressed reports by local mass media of his
\ncriticizing the Indonesian government in his speeches at several
\nuniversities in Germany.<\/p>\n
He said that he had been unfairly accused of organizing a
\nseries of demonstrations while President Soeharto was there and
\nof providing the demonstrators with information on Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Bintang, an outspoken legislator from the United Development
\nParty, has been accused by the military as one of five
\nIndonesians suspected of taking part in, or mobilizing, a series
\nof protests against the Indonesian government in Germany.<\/p>\n
Two other Indonesian citizens suspected of taking part in the
\ndemonstrations are senior journalist Goenawan Mohamad and
\nprominent human rights activist Yeni Rosa Damayanti.<\/p>\n
All three have denied any part in the demonstrations and, so
\nfar, police have only questioned Bintang.<\/p>\n
The legislator questioned the two commission members about the
\nvalidity of the police file which was used as the legal basis to
\nsummon him. The police file was reportedly prepared by someone
\nwho was not present at the demonstration sites.<\/p>\n
Bintang also told the commission that the police had no
\nauthority whatsoever to summon him because the letter of
\nauthorization was not signed by President Soeharto, as is
\nstipulated by law.<\/p>\n
According to the rule, law enforcement officers can only
\nsummon a House member if they obtain written permission from the
\nhead of state.<\/p>\n
Bintang also railed out against the travel ban slapped on him
\nby the authorities, despite having yet to be formally charged.<\/p>\n
He informed the commission that his case has provoked
\ncuriosity among members of the European Parliamentary Union.<\/p>\n
The Union, he said, sent a letter to House Speaker Wahono last
\nweek asking about his status.<\/p>\n
\"The Union is scheduled to include my case on its June meeting
\nagenda,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Awkward<\/p>\n
Marzuki told Bintang on the occasion that no procedures were
\nbreached during the investigation.<\/p>\n
\"We only noticed some awkwardness in the investigation,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Marzuki said that the commission sent a letter last weekend to
\nthe Chief of National Police, Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro,
\nasking for police protection for Bintang. Bintang's house was
\nreportedly vandalized last week by unknown persons.<\/p>\n
\"We regret the terror and cannot accept such lawless
\nactions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Marzuki said that the commission would discuss Bintang's
\ncomplaints in its general meeting next week.<\/p>\n
He lastly advised Bintang to go to the Attorney General's
\nOffice to have the travel ban lifted, which Bintang said he would
\ndo on Monday. (imn)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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