Harry seeks delay of questioning<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Musician Harry Roesli, whom the Jakarta Police
\nplans to summon for singing a satirized version of a patriotic
\nsong, has sent a letter to the city police asking for a delay of
\nhis questioning due to his poor health, an officer said on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
"Pak Harry notified us in a letter that he has heard that we
\nintend to summon him but asked if we could delay it as he was not
\nwell. He will come on his own to the Jakarta Police Headquarters
\nas soon as he has recovered," city police spokesman Sr. Comr.
\nAnton Bachrul Alam said.<\/p>\n
The Bandung-based musician, Harry, 50, sang a satirized
\nversion of Garuda Pancasila on Aug. 17 during an Independence Day
\ncelebration at former president Abdurrahman Wahid's residence in
\nSouth Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Police alleged that Harry violated Article 154 of the Criminal
\nCode by expressing hatred and hostility toward the Indonesian
\ngovernment, a crime which carries a maximum penalty of seven
\nyears imprisonment or a Rp 4,500 fine.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in a related development, lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis
\nblasted the police's plan to summon Harry and said there were
\nmore important cases to handle, such as those involving
\ncorruption and murder.<\/p>\n
Todung said the Jakarta Police was overreacting by planning to
\nquestion Harry and moreover Harry had publicly apologized to the
\ncomposer of the song and public.<\/p>\n
"We should have a higher sense of humor in reacting to Harry
\nRoesli's criticism. It is far more important to investigate
\ncorruption and killings," Todung was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
According to Todung, the satirized version of Garuda Pancasila
\nsung by Harry reflects the disappointment and dissatisfaction of
\nthe people over the economic crisis and injustices they face.<\/p>\n
"What was expressed by Harry Roesli is a reflection of the
\npeople's feelings as the latter feels there is no justice and
\nthat they are still suffering from the economic crisis. It so
\nhappened that Harry Roesli voiced their feelings," Todung said.<\/p>\n
He called on the government to keep the door to democracy
\nopen, as initiated by Abdurrahman Wahid, and not deviate from
\ndemocratic principles.<\/p>\n
"The President Megawati Soekarnoputri-Vice President Hamzah
\nHaz duo are not living in a world without critics, so they have
\nto adjust to the changes in the information world and not try to
\nstifle freedom (of expression)," Todung remarked.<\/p>\n
Harry had earlier said that street singers often sang the
\nsatirical version of the song in public buses and that he learned
\nit from them.(emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/harry-seeks-delay-of-questioning-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}