Bintang's travel ban lawsuit rejected

Bintang's travel ban lawsuit rejected

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Administrative Court ruled yesterday
that an overseas travel ban imposed on sacked legislator Sri
Bintang Pamungkas was legal.

A panel of judges led by Soedarto Radyo Soewarno concluded
yesterday the Attorney General Singgih had done everything
correctly when placing a second one-year travel ban on Bintang on
April 18 last year for judicial reasons.

"The completion of legal proceeding of a criminal charges on
Sri Bintang Pamungkas is an undisputable reason to allow the
Attorney General to issue the second ban," the court said.

Bintang had his travel ban prolonged one day after his first
one-year ban expired. He was barred traveling overseas while
standing trial for defaming the President during a series of
talks in Germany in 1995.

The former House of Representatives member from the United
Development Party was sentenced to 34 years imprisonment by the
Central Jakarta district court in 1995. He appealed to the High
Court and lost. He then appealed to the Supreme Court and is
awaiting the result of this attempt.

Judge Soedarto said the Immigration Law said nothing about the
Attorney General's right to apply the ban.

Bintang won his lawsuit against his first ban in a trial
presided over by Soedarto in December 1995; the Attorney General
regained ground after the Supreme Court granted his appeal.

Bintang said after hearing the verdict yesterday he would
appeal.

"I'm not the man who deserves the ban. I may have gone abroad
but it doesn't mean I won't return home." he said. "Look at
Sukarno (Indonesia's first president) and Nelson Mandela. Did
they escape from their political opponents?" he added.

The Attorney General defended his decision, saying that
Bintang "has the capacity, qualities and the high mobility
needed" to flee and evade prosecution.

Bintang said the Attorney General banned him from traveling
abroad on the grounds he might make statements that would
disgrace the Indonesian government.

He predicted the Supreme Court would deliver its verdict on
before his second travel ban term ends on April 18. "Unless the
Attorney General extends the ban," he said.

Bintang has set up the Indonesian Democratic Union Party and
vowed to run for the presidency during the People's Consultative
Council general assembly next year. (amd)