Bintang protests his dismissal<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Rebel politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas protested
\nyesterday his recent dismissal as a staff lecturer at the state-
\nrun University of Indonesia, saying it was illegal.<\/p>\n
His lawyer Bambang Widjojanto told a press conference the 1979
\ngovernment regulation on dishonorable discharge for civil
\nservants, which the government used for Bintang's dismissal, did
\nnot apply in this case.<\/p>\n
"The regulation cannot be used... because this particular
\nregulation is against higher laws," he said.<\/p>\n
He cited the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) 1966 decree
\nand the 1974 law on civil servants which say that a civil servant
\ncan be dismissed if proven guilty of crimes in relation with his
\nposition, or of attempts to undermine the state or government.<\/p>\n
He said that Bintang had been convicted for defaming President
\nSoeharto, not for committing a crime in relation to his position
\nas a lecturer in the university.<\/p>\n
The Central Jakarta District Court found Bintang guilty in May
\n1996. He was convicted for defaming the President during a series
\nof lectures in Germany in 1995. The Jakarta High Court upheld the
\nsentence in January as did the Supreme Court in April.<\/p>\n
Bintang was facing a subversion trial for his activities in
\nhis Indonesian Democratic Union Party when he was moved to the
\nCipinang Prison on May 4 to begin his official prison term.<\/p>\n
Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro
\nconfirmed Monday that Bintang has been discharged on May 12 as a
\nstaff lecturer at the University of Indonesia's School of
\nTechnology.<\/p>\n
The 1979 regulation stipulates that a civil servant can be
\ndishonorably discharged if convicted of an offense punishable
\nwith up to four years imprisonment.<\/p>\n
Bambang said, "It is clear that the law doesn't regulate (the
\ndismissal) of one who is convicted of a general crime regulated
\nby the Criminal Code."<\/p>\n
He asked the minister to reconsider the decision.<\/p>\n
Bambang said that neither he, Bintang's family or the
\nuniversity had received notification of Bintang's dismissal from
\nthe ministry.<\/p>\n
"The dismissal, handed out just like that, was unethical,
\nbroke the norms and procedure," he said. "It shows there is no
\nrespect for the teaching profession."<\/p>\n
"Bintang had been teaching for 27 years but he was discharged
\njust like that," Bambang said. (05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bintang-protests-his-dismissal-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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