Bintang promises to fight on from behind bars
Bintang promises to fight on from behind bars
JAKARTA (JP): Rebel politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas vowed
yesterday that he would continue to lead the struggle of his
Indonesian Democratic Union Party (PUDI) if he goes to jail.
"My arrest could not suppress PUDI's activities," Bintang told
reporters. "On the contrary, it has made PUDI internationally
known," he said after attending the Friday noon prayer at the
Attorney General's Office, where he is currently being detained.
In spite being heavily escorted on the way back to his cell,
Bintang managed to answer some questions to reporters who had
waited for him all day.
Bintang and two other PUDI leaders -- Julius Usman and Saleh
Abdullah -- are currently under investigation in connection with
PUDI's activities, which the government described as subversive.
One of the activities that the government found offensive was
sending Idul Fitri cards in which he laid out PUDI's three main
agendas: boycott the 1997 election, reject President Soeharto's
reelection and prepare for a post-Soeharto era after 1998. The
cards were sent to many officials, including Vice President Try
Sutrisno.
Bintang said that other people had also made such cards.
"I can show you many Idul Fitri cards similar to the ones I
made."
"This is a conspiracy to throw me in jail," he said, without
elaborating.
The former legislator for the United Development Party (PPP)
is already facing a 34-month jail term meted out last year by the
Central Jakarta District Court for insulting President Soeharto.
He has remained a free man pending his appeal in the Supreme
Court.
The latest charge against him, subversion, carries the maximum
penalty of death.
Bintang's wife Ernalia told reporters at the Indonesian Legal
Aid Foundation (YLBHI) that from the beginning, the entire family
-- the couple has six children -- has been prepared to face the
consequences of his actions.
Ernalia has been visiting Bintang at the detention center
everyday since he was arrested Wednesday.
"We hope that what we've done was not in vain and that it
encourages people to struggle to correct the government," Ernalia
said, quoting her husband.
Human rights groups have criticized Bintang's arrest, saying
that he should not be prosecuted for having different political
views.
Six lawyers, led by Frans Hendra Winarta of YLBHI, accompanied
Bintang and two other activists during the interrogation at the
Attorney General's Office.
Meanwhile, 10 activists representing four Moslem organizations
submitted a statement supporting the Attorney General's Office in
investigating Bintang and the other two PUDI activists, Antara
reported.
The groups -- Indonesian Moslem Young Generation, Indonesian
Moslem Youths, Youths for the Council for Islamic Propagation and
the Special Task Force of the Communication Forum for Islamic
Organizations -- said that the authorities should prosecute those
who intend to undermine national stability. (05)