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. (05)