Court to summon President Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta District Court ordered state prosecutors to summon President Soeharto who is said to be the victim of alleged defamation by defendant Rachmad Buchori, the secretary of former politician Soebadio Sastrosatomo.

Presiding judge Suratman said yesterday the panel of judges agreed with Rachmad, alias Buyung R.B., who asked that the injured party in the defamation suit appear before the court to attest that he was defamed.

The judge said Soeharto would either have to appear himself or deliver a written statement.

According to the executive director of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association, Hendardi, the move came as a breakthrough since prior attempts to bring Soeharto forward in other defamation cases were rejected by the court.

Buyung, 34, is accused of defaming the President through his involvement in the publishing of a banned book titled Era Baru Pemimpin Baru, Badio Menolak Rekayasa Regim Orde Baru (New Era New Leader, Badio Rejects the New Order's Regime Engineering).

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

Prosecutor Uri Hasan Basri said Soebadio dictated the manuscript while Buyung typed it.

The Attorney General's Office banned the 22-page book in March, saying it could provoke unrest and create a negative image of the government.

Soebadio was summoned and questioned by the Attorney General's Office four days after the ban, however, he has not been charged in the case.

The office has also summoned politicians Ali Sadikin and Yusuf Ronodipuro for allegedly asking the author to make a copy of the book for them.

Ali Sadikin is a former Jakarta governor, while Yusuf is Indonesia's former ambassador to Argentina.

Police arrested Buyung on March 19. He is now being detained in Cipinang Prison in East Jakarta.

After yesterday's hearing, Hendardi, whose association is providing legal counsel for Buyung, said the judge's decision to ask for Soeharto's testimony would help clarify the case which he described as muddled with legal uncertainty.

"The judge is applying the Criminal Code Procedures which stipulate that an injured party should be the first one to give testimony," he said.

Hendardi noted that Buyung has been subject to severe legal confusion given the fact that the "main suspect" in the case, Soebadio, has not even been charged.

The hearing was adjourned yesterday for two weeks. (05)