Bintang complains to rights commission
Bintang complains to rights commission
JAKARTA (JP): Legislator Sri Bintang Pamungkas paid a visit to
the office of the National Commission on Human Rights yesterday
to complain about a violation of his rights during a preliminary
police investigation of his alleged role in recent anti-Indonesia
demonstrations in Germany.
"The government and mass media have violated the principle of
presumption of innocence by disseminating biased information over
recent anti-government demonstrations in Germany," he told the
Commission's deputy chairman, Marzuki Darusman.
Marzuki was accompanied by another commission member, Bambang
W. Suharto.
Bintang addressed reports by local mass media of his
criticizing the Indonesian government in his speeches at several
universities in Germany.
He said that he had been unfairly accused of organizing a
series of demonstrations while President Soeharto was there and
of providing the demonstrators with information on Indonesia.
Bintang, an outspoken legislator from the United Development
Party, has been accused by the military as one of five
Indonesians suspected of taking part in, or mobilizing, a series
of protests against the Indonesian government in Germany.
Two other Indonesian citizens suspected of taking part in the
demonstrations are senior journalist Goenawan Mohamad and
prominent human rights activist Yeni Rosa Damayanti.
All three have denied any part in the demonstrations and, so
far, police have only questioned Bintang.
The legislator questioned the two commission members about the
validity of the police file which was used as the legal basis to
summon him. The police file was reportedly prepared by someone
who was not present at the demonstration sites.
Bintang also told the commission that the police had no
authority whatsoever to summon him because the letter of
authorization was not signed by President Soeharto, as is
stipulated by law.
According to the rule, law enforcement officers can only
summon a House member if they obtain written permission from the
head of state.
Bintang also railed out against the travel ban slapped on him
by the authorities, despite having yet to be formally charged.
He informed the commission that his case has provoked
curiosity among members of the European Parliamentary Union.
The Union, he said, sent a letter to House Speaker Wahono last
week asking about his status.
"The Union is scheduled to include my case on its June meeting
agenda," he said.
Awkward
Marzuki told Bintang on the occasion that no procedures were
breached during the investigation.
"We only noticed some awkwardness in the investigation," he
said.
Marzuki said that the commission sent a letter last weekend to
the Chief of National Police, Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro,
asking for police protection for Bintang. Bintang's house was
reportedly vandalized last week by unknown persons.
"We regret the terror and cannot accept such lawless
actions," he said.
Marzuki said that the commission would discuss Bintang's
complaints in its general meeting next week.
He lastly advised Bintang to go to the Attorney General's
Office to have the travel ban lifted, which Bintang said he would
do on Monday. (imn)