Interrogation on Bintang suspended<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The police have adjourned indefinitely their
\nquestioning of outspoken legislator Sri Bintang Pamungkas over
\nhis alleged role in recent anti-Indonesian government
\ndemonstrations in Germany.<\/p>\n
Police investigators are now reviewing the legal procedural
\nrequirements which they must meet in order to resume their
\ninterrogation of Bintang.<\/p>\n
\"Today is the last day of the police investigation of me,\"
\nBintang, beaming with joy, told reporters as he emerged from
\nNational Police headquarters yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"The police investigators agreed to grant my request that they
\naccount for their procedures,\" said the legislator from the
\nUnited Development Party, who had been interrogated by police for
\nthree consecutive days.<\/p>\n
The legislator has been named by the military as one of five
\nIndonesians suspected of taking part in, or mobilizing, a series
\nof protests against the Indonesian government in Germany during
\nPresident Soeharto's recent visit there.<\/p>\n
Two other Indonesian citizens suspected of taking part in the
\ndemonstrations are senior journalist Goenawan Mohamad and
\nprominent human rights activist Yeni Rosa Damayanti.<\/p>\n
All three have denied any part in the demonstrations. So far
\npolice have questioned only Bintang.<\/p>\n
Bintang said that he had found out, by accident, that the
\npolice report used as the legal basis for summoning him had been
\nprepared by a person who was not physically present at the
\ndemonstrations.<\/p>\n
\"Capt. Mugiarto, who prepared the police report, was not
\npresent when the demonstration occurred,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We doubt the validity of the police report,\" added Luhut
\nPangaribuan, one of Bintang's lawyers from the Indonesian Legal
\nAid Institute.<\/p>\n
Bintang said he had also queried the police's authority to
\nsummon him because, as a member of the House of Representatives,
\nhe cannot be interrogated without written approval from the
\nPresident.<\/p>\n
He said that the letter authorizing his being summoned to the
\npolice headquarters was signed by Minister\/State Secretary
\nMoerdiono rather than by President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
\"According to Law No. 13\/1970, concerning police
\ninvestigations of legislators, only the President has the
\nauthority to sign such a letter,\" Luhut said.<\/p>\n
Bintang said he had asked the police investigators why he had
\nbeen barred from going abroad, even though he had yet to be
\nformally charged.<\/p>\n
Bintang said that as of yesterday, the national police
\nheadquarters would be providing him with protection, following
\nattacks on his home and car in the early hours of Tuesday
\nmorning.<\/p>\n
\"Four police officers will provide me with 24-hour
\nprotection,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the national police headquarters, Brig. Gen. I
\nKetut Ratta, promised that the police would investigate the
\nattack.<\/p>\n
Separately, Chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council Sudomo
\nsaid yesterday that he supported the government's move to
\ninvestigate the demonstrations.<\/p>\n
\"The demonstrations, defaming the President and the
\ngovernment, were against the law,\" he said after a meeting with
\nVice President Try Sutrisno. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/interrogation-on-bintang-suspended-1447893297",
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