Bintang to be charged with defamation
Bintang to be charged with defamation
JAKARTA (JP): Accusations against Goenawan Mohamad and Sri Bintang Pamungkas of involvement in this month's demonstration against President Soeharto in Germany are taking on a more definite form, as are the sanctions they could face.
Bintang may be charged with defaming President Soeharto, while Goenawan is accused of "funding" the demonstrations.
National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro said yesterday that Bintang, a member of the House of Representatives, is likely to be charged with defaming President Soeharto.
"Police are preparing articles related to his defaming the President...and causing a physical disturbance against the President," Banurusman told reporters.
He noted several articles on defamation in the Criminal Code with maximum jail terms ranging between five to seven years.
Chief of the Armed Forces' (ABRI) General Affairs Lt. Gen. Soeyono believes that Goenawan, former chief editor of the banned Tempo magazine, may have "funded the demonstration" against Soeharto. "I'm not accusing (him), but it's possible."
It was also Soeyono who first mentioned the name of Yenni Rosa Damayanti, a human rights activist, among those who took part in the demonstration in Germany.
Yenni was released from prison in December after serving a 12- month term for insulting President Soeharto.
"How could a person who just got out have money?" Soeyono asked.
Bintang and Goenawan have both denied the accusations. Bintang was in Germany at around the same time as Soeharto, but insists that he was only there for a series of speaking engagements at two universities.
Goenawan said he had already arrived in Singapore and was on his way home from a visit to Germany when the demonstration against President Soeharto occurred.
Yenni, 27, is still abroad but has reportedly called her mother several times. Her mother, who refused to reveal her name or Yenni's whereabouts, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that Yenni is in good health.
Yenni's mother yesterday met with Luhut Pangaribuan, director of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH), to ask for his advice.
Meanwhile, Attorney General spokesman Basrief Arief said the authorities slapped a ban on Bintang Pamungkas, as requested by police headquarters, prohibiting him from traveling overseas.
In Jakarta, reactions to the allegations against Goenawan, Bintang and Yenni continue to intensify.
Chairman of ABRI faction Abu Hartono said the principle of presumption of innocence must be upheld. He admitted, however, his belief that police had strong reason to launch an investigation of Bintang.
Bintang has been summoned by the police and will be questioned today. Police said Soeharto has given the green light for them to question the United Development Party (PPP) legislator.
"There must have been complete information for the President to have given the go-ahead," Abu said.
Abu said he supported Soeharto's statement that those involved in the demonstration must be treated seriously. "This concerns the dignity of our nation, so they must be dealt with firmly."
A number of human rights organizations have called on the authorities to uphold the principle of presumption of innocence on the issue.
Saleh Abdullah of the Indonesian Front for the Defense of Human Rights and Effendi Salman of the Nusantara Legal Aid Institute called on the government to exercise self-restraint and not issue statements which foster a negative opinion of the case.
Such statements constitute an "abuse of human rights" of the suspects, they said in a joint statement.
Meanwhile, Bintang told a meeting with Gadjah Mada University students that he was present during the Hannover demonstration. "I was watching the demonstration," he said. "Merely as a free show."
He also admitted he was taking pictures with a camera, which belonged to a German reporter because he did not have his own camera with him.
Bintang, however, denied the accusation that he was involved in the demonstration and carried posters, as some officials have charged. "Those are arbitrary accusations and slander," he said. (swe/imn/r. fadjri)