Goenawan Muhamad protests Ratna's arrest<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Noted government critic Goenawan Muhamad and the
\nIndonesian Society for Humanity are among the growing voices
\nexpressing their concern over the arrest of actress Ratna
\nSarumpaet and eight other activists. They were charged with
\nillegally organizing a political meeting.<\/p>\n
Goenawan, former editor of the now banned Tempo magazine,
\nattempted to meet with members of the National Commission on
\nHuman Rights here yesterday to complain about the arrest.<\/p>\n
But his efforts were in vain as all commission members were
\ntied up with busy schedules.<\/p>\n
No appointment had been scheduled between Goenawan and any of
\nthe commission members.<\/p>\n
\"That's okay. As so many people are arrested the commission is
\nbusy. Understandably,\" Goenawan Muhammad told reporters.<\/p>\n
Goenawan said he had come not only to express concern at
\nRatna's arrest but also her daughter's, Fathom Saulina, who's
\ncrime he claimed was merely accompanying her mother to the police
\nstation.<\/p>\n
\"I represent my own concerns. I represent my own anger,\" he
\ncommented, adding that Fathom's arrest was a \"brutality in
\nitself.\"<\/p>\n
Police arrested the activists during a raid on a planned
\npolitical discussion on Tuesday in North Jakarta<\/p>\n
Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said Wednesday
\nthat the group had organized a political meeting without a police
\npermit and were charged under a 1969 law restricting political
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
If found guilty they face a maximum sentence of one year in
\njail.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Society for Humanity, who had one of its
\nactivists, Bonar Tigor Naipospos, among those arrested, joined
\nthe growing outcry at the arrests. It issued a statement
\ndemanding their immediate release.<\/p>\n
The group's secretary-general, Andriyanto, said in a statement
\nthat the gathering could not be categorized as unlawful because
\nthe organizers did not disrupt public order and held the meeting
\nin an indoor venue.<\/p>\n
Ratna, who is also a member of Siaga -- a loose association
\nwhich supports government critic Amien Rais and the ousted leader
\nof the Indonesian Democratic Party Megawati Soekarnoputri --
\nurged every Indonesian to closely study President Soeharto's
\ninauguration speech.<\/p>\n
\"He voiced his willingness to receive criticism from any
\nparties,\" Ratna said in a three-page handwritten letter made
\navailable to the press. (emf\/byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/goenawan-muhamad-protests-ratnas-arrest-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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