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)