Sabam Sirait launches book on RI democracy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A book compiling the thoughts, experiences and
\ndreams of outspoken politician Sabam Sirait titled Sabam Sirait:
\nUntuk Demokrasi Indonesia (Sabam Sirait: For Indonesia's
\nDemocracy), was launched here yesterday.<\/p>\n
The forward of the 335-page book, published by Pustaka Yayasan
\nForum Adil Sejahtera, a publishing company which he helped found,
\nwas written by Mudji Sutrisno who described Sabam as \"an uncommon
\nand true democrat\".<\/p>\n
Attended by about 200 friends and colleagues, the book
\nlaunching was colored mostly by jokes, speeches and comments
\nflattering the legislator from the Indonesian Democratic Party
\n(PDI).<\/p>\n
Intellectual Mochtar Pabottingi of the National Institute of
\nSciences (LIPI) lauded Sabam as a \"politician with character,
\nintegrity and sincerity\" in his struggle for the cause of
\ndemocracy.<\/p>\n
Also present yesterday was former Indonesian ambassador to
\nAustralia Sabam Siagian, Sabam's fellow PDI legislators Soetardjo
\nSoerjogoeritno and Hariyanto Taslam, senior journalist Aristides
\nKatoppo, and historian Onghokham.<\/p>\n
Sabam Sirait was born on Oct. 13, 1936, in Tanjung Balai,
\nNorth Sumatra.<\/p>\n
He is former chairman of the Christian Student Movement
\nJakarta-chapter and former secretary-general of the now defunct
\nIndonesian Christian Party.<\/p>\n
Well-known for his critical opinions, Sabam has become one of
\nthe most loved commentators to the press.<\/p>\n
Some of his most vocal criticisms include his opposition to
\nmonopolies and the need to limit presidential terms.<\/p>\n
\"His thoughts live up until now. He is a political employee
\nwho never gets bored with his job and never resigns,\" a lecturer
\nat the Driyarkara philosophy school in Jakarta, Mudji, said.<\/p>\n
Pabottingi said Sabam was a politician that believed the
\ncountry should fight for an \"integrative democracy\" which could
\nbind the country as one without using force.<\/p>\n
Also commenting on Sabam was Sabam Siagian, who recalled that
\nthe legislator once said that his work would finally be complete
\nafter he launched his own book.<\/p>\n
But Sabam said that another job was now awaiting the
\nlegislator, pointing to the need to help repair rift-ridden PDI,
\nin which he was once a deputy chairman.<\/p>\n
\"If not, the life of democracy in Indonesia will be
\ndifficult,\" Sabam said. (aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sabam-sirait-launches-book-on-ri-democracy-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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