Notable lawman Ali Said dies of asthma at 69<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Ali Said, the former chief justice and chairman
\nof the National Commission on Human Rights, died of asthma at
\nPondok Indah hospital yesterday. He had turned 69 on June 12.<\/p>\n
Ali Said had an illustrious legal record, unmatched by any
\nother Indonesian. Starting as a military prosecutor, his career
\ntook him to the three highest public legal offices in the land:
\nattorney general (1971-1981), minister of justice (1981-1984) and
\nchief justice (1984-1992).<\/p>\n
His integrity was such that after he stepped down from public
\noffice he was asked by President Soeharto to head the National
\nCommission on Human Rights when it was established in 1993.<\/p>\n
And he silenced his critics, who doubted his independence as
\nthe Soeharto-appointed commission chairman, when he took on both
\nthe government and the military for human rights violations.<\/p>\n
Ali Said, who was an Army lieutenant general before he
\nswitched to civilian life, was buried at the Kalibata Heroes'
\nCemetery with full military honors.<\/p>\n
Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman led the ceremony which was
\nattended by former vice president Sudharmono, Minister of
\nNational Development Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Minister of
\nEnvironment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, Chief Justice Soerjono and
\nmost of the members of the human rights commission.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto and Vice President Try Sutrisno were among
\nthose who paid their last respects at Ali Said's residence in
\nPondok Indah.<\/p>\n
Oetojo, in his eulogy at Kalibata cemetery, described Ali Said
\nas a \"loyal and dedicated fighter of justice\", noting that he
\ndevoted the same degree of seriousness to every office he held.<\/p>\n
Baharuddin Lopa, the secretary-general of the human rights
\ncommission, told reporters at the burial that Ali Said continued
\nto show his concern even as he fought against his illness.<\/p>\n
\"Last week, while in bed, he phoned me up to ask how various
\ncases were being dealt with in the commission,\" Lopa said.<\/p>\n
Another commission member, Police Brig. Gen. (ret.) Roekmini,
\nsaid Ali Said's death is a great loss to the commission at a time
\nwhen many violations of human right are being committed.<\/p>\n
She said Ali Said talked little but worked a lot.<\/p>\n
He rarely made public appearances as commission chairman, but
\nin the few times he did, he gave his full endorsement to the work
\ncarried out by the members, which more often than not, was
\ncritical of the government and the military.<\/p>\n
Ali Said's legal career started to rise when he presided over
\nthe Special Military Tribunal (Mahmilub) set up to try the
\nperpetrators of the 1965 coup which was blamed on the Indonesian
\nCommunist Party (PKI).<\/p>\n
Among those he sentenced to death were deputy prime minister
\nSoebandrio and Nyono, a top PKI leader. Nyono was executed but
\nSubandrio's sentence were commuted twice and he was freed last
\nyear.<\/p>\n
Many people remembered Ali Said as a humorous person, but they
\nalso praised him for his vigor in pursuing justice.<\/p>\n
When he was attorney general, he successfully prosecuted
\ndozens of people for smuggling. And when he was chief justice, he
\nfought hard against collusion practices in the courts, a problem
\nthat still undermines the court's image today.<\/p>\n
Ali Said is survived by his wife Sri Murni and three children,
\nincluding Golkar politician Ais Anantama. (16)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/notable-lawman-ali-said-dies-of-asthma-at-69-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}