Buyung says he is victim of repression

Buyung says he is victim of repression

JAKARTA (JP): Rachmad Buchori, who is accused of defaming
President Soeharto, told South Jakarta District Court yesterday
that he was a victim of the New Order government's repression of
correction and criticism.

Buchori, alias Buyung, said the government exercised a policy
in which anybody opposed to the government "will face punishment
and jail".

"Since its establishment, (President) Soeharto's regime has
been repressive toward actions and thoughts which desire
democracy," he told the court.

Buyung was due to deliver a defense statement during
yesterday's session but, instead, he read a political oration
which did not touch on the substance of the indictment.

Buyung, 34, personal secretary to former politician Soebadio
Sastrosatomo, has been charged with defaming the President
through his involvement in the publishing of Soebadio's book.

Prosecutor Uri Hasan Basri had asked the court to sentence
Buyung, who was charged under Article 134 of the Criminal Code,
to one year in jail.

The 22-page book, Era Baru Pemimpin Baru, Badio Menolak
Rekayasa Regim Orde Baru (New Era New Order, Badio Rejects the
New Order Regime's Engineering), was banned on March 4 by the
Attorney General's Office because it could supposedly provoke
unrest and create a negative image of the government.

The book was written by Soebadio, 78, founder of the now-
defunct Indonesian Socialist Party (PSI).

The government also banned last week a 23-page book titled
Politik Dosomuko Rezim Orde Baru: Rapuh dan Sengsarakan Rakyat
(New Order Regime's Politics of Dosomuko: Debasing and Tormenting
the People) written by the same author for allegedly
"discrediting" the President.

Soebadio himself, however, has not been charged.

Buyung's trial began on Aug. 5 but he has frequently refused
to appear in court after his demand that Soeharto testify was
rejected. (ind)