Sacking of Bintang defended<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Lawyers defending President Soeharto against a
\nlawsuit filed by Sri Bintang Pamungkas said yesterday that the
\nhead of state was within his constitutional right when he removed
\nthe politician from the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
The lawyers told the Jakarta State Administrative Court that
\nthe President was merely \"formalizing\" a decision made by the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP) to have Bintang removed from the
\nHouse.<\/p>\n
They added that Bintang, who filed the lawsuit with the court
\nto have the dismissal reversed, should have filed the lawsuit
\nagainst PPP leaders and not the President.<\/p>\n
The lawyers representing the President are H.V.A. Lumempouw,
\nH.M. Adenan, Asril Rivai, and Irdan Dahlan. Their statement was
\nread by judge Sudarto Radyo Suwarno, who is trying the case.<\/p>\n
They argued that since the law empowers the President to
\ninstall and dismiss members of the House of Representatives, then
\nthe decree to remove Bintang was constitutional.<\/p>\n
Bintang lost his seat last May after he fell out of favor with
\nhis party leaders for continually speaking out against the
\ngovernment and the military. The politician is contesting his
\nremoval, saying that he was elected by the people in the 1992
\nelections.<\/p>\n
The trial is one of three legal battles the former legislator
\nis fighting against the government. Another lawsuit filed by
\nBintang to have a foreign travel ban against him lifted is
\nproceeding at the same court.<\/p>\n
The third suit, which begins tomorrow at the Central Jakarta
\nDistrict court, was filed by the government against Bintang on
\ncharges of insulting the President.<\/p>\n
At yesterday's trial, Bintang was represented by lawyers from
\nthe Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation Adnan Buyung Nasution, Maqdir
\nIsmail, Bambang Widjojanto, and Nur Amalia. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sacking-of-bintang-defended-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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