Lawyer defends political activist's overseas trip<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A lawyer for political activist Pius
\nLustrilanang dismissed yesterday allegations that his client's
\noverseas travel was aimed at humiliating the country.<\/p>\n
Hendardi of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights
\nAssociation (PBHI) said that his client had no intention of
\nembarrassing the nation.<\/p>\n
\"Pius' overseas travel is in fact for the sake of bettering
\nhuman rights protection in the country,\" Hendardi, PBHI's
\nexecutive director, told The Jakarta Post and Sinar weekly.<\/p>\n
Armed Forces (ABRI) spokesman Brig. Gen. A. Wahab Mokodongan
\nsaid Wednesday that Armed Forces Headquarters had no problem with
\nPius' travel abroad but warned him not to issue statements or
\nperform activities that would undermine the nation's integrity.<\/p>\n
Pius is now in Holland for his own peace of mind and physical
\nsafety after being abducted by unknown armed people for two
\nmonths.<\/p>\n
Pius, the secretary-general of SIAGA, a loose association of
\nsupporters of government critics Megawati Soekarnoputri and Amien
\nRais, told the National Commission on Human Rights on Monday that
\nhe had been abducted at gunpoint on Feb. 4 and detained in a cell
\nfor questioning for two months until he was released on April 3.<\/p>\n
Hendardi admitted that Pius traveled overseas because he felt
\ninsecure here.<\/p>\n
\"Pius has received telephone calls threatening him not to talk
\nto the press every night since his release on April 3,\" he said,
\nadding that the threats continued up until his flight Monday.<\/p>\n
Hendardi said it was ironic that an Indonesian citizen had to
\nseek physical safety abroad.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that Pius' departure was facilitated by PBHI
\nand the rights commission, but denied any political assistance
\nfrom foreign embassies.<\/p>\n
Hendardi said he had no idea how long Pius would stay abroad.<\/p>\n
\"All I know is that he has a number of meetings on the agenda
\nwith officials and activists in the international human rights
\ncircle.\"<\/p>\n
He said that Pius would meet Mary Robinson, of the United
\nNations' Human Rights Commission, some time next week.<\/p>\n
Pius is one of several activists and an opposition politician
\nwho recently reappeared after going missing for several weeks.
\n(imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lawyer-defends-political-activists-overseas-trip-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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