Govt extends overseas travel ban on Bintang<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General's Office has extended the
\noverseas travel ban on controversial politician Sri Bintang
\nPamungkas by another year, an official said yesterday.<\/p>\n
"We have informed him of the renewed travel ban," chief
\nspokesman for the Attorney General's Office, Pontas Pasaribu,
\nsaid yesterday.<\/p>\n
He announced that the travel ban, slapped on Bintang on April
\n18, 1995, was extended because Bintang is still being tried on
\ncharges of insulting President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Bintang was banned from traveling abroad after he was charged
\nwith slandering the head of state during a seminar in Berlin last
\nyear.<\/p>\n
"The new travel ban was issued by the Attorney General's
\noffice on a request by chief prosecutor (of the Central Jakarta
\nprosecutor's office) P. Sitinjak," Pontas said.<\/p>\n
He said that the travel ban was issued to guarantee the
\ncontinuation of the trial.<\/p>\n
"Nobody can guarantee Bintang's presence at the trial," he
\ngave as justification.<\/p>\n
Immigration laws furnish four government officials with the
\nauthority to request a travel ban: the minister of finance, the
\ncommander of the Armed Forces, the attorney general, and the
\nminister of justice.<\/p>\n
The power to determine the length of restriction lies with the
\nAttorney General's Office.<\/p>\n
Bintang allegedly called Soeharto a dictator during an April
\n1995 seminar in Germany, and allegedly said the President had
\nviolated the 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
The defamation trial is currently underway at the Central
\nJakarta District Court. The court is scheduled to reach a
\ndecision on May 8.<\/p>\n
Bintang failed to turn up at the Attorney General's Office
\nyesterday to receive the extension notice. He said he had to
\nteach at the University of Indonesia the entire day.<\/p>\n
Pontas said the Attorney General's Office would send a formal
\nnotice to Bintang on the renewed travel ban.<\/p>\n
Bintang won a lawsuit filed with the Jakarta State
\nAdministrative Court against Attorney General Singgih for banning
\nhim from traveling overseas last year. The government's appeal is
\nnow being heard at the State High Administrative Court. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-extends-overseas-travel-ban-on-bintang-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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