Book about lawman Ali Said launched

Book about lawman Ali Said launched

JAKARTA (JP): A book about the late Ali Said, one of
Indonesian's most prominent legal officials, was launched at the
Attorney General's office yesterday.

The launch of the 399-page book titled Ali Said Di Antara
Sahabat (Ali Said Among Close Friends) coincided with the first
anniversary of his death.

The book is a compilation of articles about Ali by 43 of his
colleagues in the bureaucracy, fellow lawmen and relatives.

Among those contributing articles are Secretary-General of the
National Commission on Human Rights Baharuddin Lopa, former chief
of the National Intelligence Coordinating Body Gen. (ret) Yoga
Soegomo, former Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces
Commander Gen. L.B. Moerdani, former Vice President Sudharmono,
Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Abdurrahman Wahid, Attorney General
Singgih, and former National Police Chief Gen. Hoegeng Iman
Santoso.

Singgih, Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman, and Hoegeng were
among those present at the ceremony.

Ali Said's career took him to the three highest public legal
offices: attorney general (1971-1981), minister of justice (1981-
1984), and chief justice (1984-1992).

After he stepped down from public office, he was asked by
President Soeharto to head the National Commission on Human
Rights when it was established in 1993. He chaired the body until
he died of asthma on June 28 at the age of 69.

Ali Said's legal career took off when he presided over the
Special Military Tribunal (Mahmilub) set up to try the
perpetrators of the 1965 attempted coup, which was blamed on the
Indonesian Communist Party.

Aristides Katoppo from the Pustaka Sinar Harapan, which
published the book, said Ali Said was a man with integrity.

"Most people who know him, remember their friendship with him
even though they had different opinions or perceptions," he said.
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