Scholar Jeffrey Winters returns<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Distinguished American Indonesianist Jeffrey A.
\nWinters, who became a cause celebre last October after
\nhe was accused of slandering a minister, returned to the country
\non Sunday.<\/p>\n
He passed through the immigration check at Soekarno-Hatta
\nInternational Airport without incident, unlike Japanese scholar
\nYoshihara Kunio who was denied entry last Sunday.<\/p>\n
\"I appreciate Indonesia's hospitability,\" he told The Jakarta
\nPost at the airport.<\/p>\n
He was met by Todung Mulya Lubis, who has acted as his
\nlawyer since the police sought him for questioning for allegedly
\nslandering Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and
\nIndustry Ginandjar Kartasasmita and business associates.<\/p>\n
As he left the terminal, Winters was met by journalists who
\npeppered him with questions, including on whether he felt he
\nwould be able to leave the country.<\/p>\n
\"It's the reform era, of course he can,\" Todung responded.<\/p>\n
Max Riberu of book publisher Pustaka Sinar Harapan
\nwhich arranged his visit said the professor of political
\neconomics from Chicago-based Northwestern University would attend
\nthe launching of two of his books in Jakarta on Monday. He will
\ntravel to Yogyakarta on Tuesday and Surabaya on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The books are Indonesian translations of his Power In Motion
\nand The New Order's Political Sins.<\/p>\n
The controversy was sparked by Winters' assertion during a
\npublic forum that Ginandjar was involved in dubious dealings in
\nthe extension of the mining contract of copper and gold mining
\ngiant PT Freeport Indonesia. Ginandjar was minister of mines and
\nenergy when the extension was made in the early 1990s.<\/p>\n
A miffed Ginandjar accused the American of slander.<\/p>\n
The police immediately acted on Ginandjar's grievance, setting
\nup a special investigative team to question Winters on charges of
\ndiscrediting an incumbent minister.<\/p>\n
Even Minister of Justice Muladi entered the fray, stating that
\nWinters should be banned from entering Indonesia for violating
\nArticle 316 of the Criminal Code regarding insult and injury to
\nthe reputation of a senior official.<\/p>\n
The furor died down after a few weeks because Winters had
\nreturned to the U.S. several days after making the allegation.
\n(aan)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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