Bintang to be charged with defamation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Accusations against Goenawan Mohamad and Sri
\nBintang Pamungkas of involvement in this month's demonstration
\nagainst President Soeharto in Germany are taking on a more
\ndefinite form, as are the sanctions they could face.<\/p>\n
Bintang may be charged with defaming President Soeharto, while
\nGoenawan is accused of \"funding\" the demonstrations.<\/p>\n
National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro said
\nyesterday that Bintang, a member of the House of Representatives,
\nis likely to be charged with defaming President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
\"Police are preparing articles related to his defaming the
\nPresident...and causing a physical disturbance against the
\nPresident,\" Banurusman told reporters.<\/p>\n
He noted several articles on defamation in the Criminal Code
\nwith maximum jail terms ranging between five to seven years.<\/p>\n
Chief of the Armed Forces' (ABRI) General Affairs Lt. Gen.
\nSoeyono believes that Goenawan, former chief editor of the banned
\nTempo magazine, may have \"funded the demonstration\" against
\nSoeharto. \"I'm not accusing (him), but it's possible.\"<\/p>\n
It was also Soeyono who first mentioned the name of Yenni Rosa
\nDamayanti, a human rights activist, among those who took part in
\nthe demonstration in Germany.<\/p>\n
Yenni was released from prison in December after serving a 12-
\nmonth term for insulting President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
\"How could a person who just got out have money?\" Soeyono
\nasked.<\/p>\n
Bintang and Goenawan have both denied the accusations. Bintang
\nwas in Germany at around the same time as Soeharto, but insists
\nthat he was only there for a series of speaking engagements at
\ntwo universities.<\/p>\n
Goenawan said he had already arrived in Singapore and was on
\nhis way home from a visit to Germany when the demonstration
\nagainst President Soeharto occurred.<\/p>\n
Yenni, 27, is still abroad but has reportedly called her
\nmother several times. Her mother, who refused to reveal her name
\nor Yenni's whereabouts, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that
\nYenni is in good health.<\/p>\n
Yenni's mother yesterday met with Luhut Pangaribuan, director
\nof the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH), to ask for his advice.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Attorney General spokesman Basrief Arief said the
\nauthorities slapped a ban on Bintang Pamungkas, as requested by
\npolice headquarters, prohibiting him from traveling overseas.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, reactions to the allegations against Goenawan,
\nBintang and Yenni continue to intensify.<\/p>\n
Chairman of ABRI faction Abu Hartono said the principle of
\npresumption of innocence must be upheld. He admitted, however,
\nhis belief that police had strong reason to launch an
\ninvestigation of Bintang.<\/p>\n
Bintang has been summoned by the police and will be questioned
\ntoday. Police said Soeharto has given the green light for them to
\nquestion the United Development Party (PPP) legislator.<\/p>\n
\"There must have been complete information for the President
\nto have given the go-ahead,\" Abu said.<\/p>\n
Abu said he supported Soeharto's statement that those involved
\nin the demonstration must be treated seriously. \"This concerns
\nthe dignity of our nation, so they must be dealt with firmly.\"<\/p>\n
A number of human rights organizations have called on the
\nauthorities to uphold the principle of presumption of innocence
\non the issue.<\/p>\n
Saleh Abdullah of the Indonesian Front for the Defense of
\nHuman Rights and Effendi Salman of the Nusantara Legal Aid
\nInstitute called on the government to exercise self-restraint and
\nnot issue statements which foster a negative opinion of the case.<\/p>\n
Such statements constitute an \"abuse of human rights\" of the
\nsuspects, they said in a joint statement.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Bintang told a meeting with Gadjah Mada University
\nstudents that he was present during the Hannover demonstration.
\n\"I was watching the demonstration,\" he said. \"Merely as a free
\nshow.\"<\/p>\n
He also admitted he was taking pictures with a camera, which
\nbelonged to a German reporter because he did not have his own
\ncamera with him.<\/p>\n
Bintang, however, denied the accusation that he was involved
\nin the demonstration and carried posters, as some officials have
\ncharged. \"Those are arbitrary accusations and slander,\" he said.
\n(swe\/imn\/r. fadjri)<\/p>",
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