Dossiers on Bintang sent to prosecutors' office<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): As police reached the final stages of their
\nefforts to bring Sri Bintang Pamungkas to court for allegedly
\ninsulting President Soeharto, discussion of the possible
\ninternational ramifications has also intensified.<\/p>\n
National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman told reporters yesterday
\nthat the dossiers on the former legislator accused of
\nparticipating in the April 9 demonstration against Soeharto in
\nDresden, Germany, were submitted to the Prosecutor's Office last
\nweek.<\/p>\n
\"We have questioned more than 10 witnesses,\" Banurusman said.
\nHe added that he would not question the witnesses of Bintang's
\nchoice, saying that his decision was \"not against Criminal Code
\nprocedures\".<\/p>\n
At the House of Representatives yesterday, Deputy Speaker
\nSoerjadi and legislator Zamharir A.R. said that they would not
\nbring the case of Bintang's dismissal from the House to the
\ncongress of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in September.<\/p>\n
\"If there are parties outside of the House, such as a non-
\ngovernmental organization, that wish to bring the case to the
\nattention of the IPU, then we can't prevent them,\" Soerjadi said.<\/p>\n
\"However, if it's the House members who take the case, then
\nit's not normal,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Also yesterday, around 50 students marched to the office of
\nthe National Commission on Human Rights protesting the police who
\nbarred Bintang from speaking on the freedom of expression at a
\nseminar here Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The students unfurled placards and banners which called for
\nfreedom of speech and the abolition of a policy which stipulates
\nthat people must obtain a police permit to speak in public.<\/p>\n
Received by commission member Asmara Nababan, the students
\ncomplained that the disbanding of the seminar by security
\npersonnel was an \"arbitrary act\".<\/p>\n
Following the ban on Bintang, the other speakers scheduled to
\naddress the event, including human rights lawyer Mulyana W.
\nKusumah, decided to also leave the campus.<\/p>\n
Over the past several months, Bintang has faced various
\npolitical setbacks. Earlier this year, he was dismissed by the
\nHouse faction of the Moslem-based United Development Party for
\nallegedly going against the party's policies and for offending a
\nnumber of cabinet ministers.<\/p>\n
Shortly afterward, he was implicated in a series of anti-
\nIndonesian government demonstrations held during President
\nSoeharto's visit to Germany in April.<\/p>\n
Bintang has repeatedly explained that he was in Germany to
\nattend a number of seminars.<\/p>\n
A number of prominent human rights lawyers, including Adnan
\nBuyung Nasution, have lent their support to Bintang, who is known
\nfor his outspokenness and criticism of government policies.<\/p>\n
Bintang himself lodged a complaint in April with the National
\nCommission on Human Rights, protesting the travel and speaking
\nbans slapped on him by the authorities and the terror to which he
\nand his family members have been subjected.<\/p>\n
One of the latest developments is the reported plan of the
\nUnited Nations sub-committee on human rights to discuss Bintang's
\ncase in its meeting in Geneva later this month. (anr\/05\/swe)<\/p>",
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