German MPs concerned at Bintang case
JAKARTA (JP): The head of a visiting German parliamentary delegation has expressed discontent with the legal action against former legislator Sri Bintang Pamungkas for his remarks about President Soeharto during his visit to Germany in April.
"We have conveyed our views on the matter. We actually deeply regret that it could have happened," Karl-Heinz Hornheus told journalists through his interpreter here Tuesday evening.
Hornheus is chairman of the German parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, which left Indonesia yesterday after a four-day visit here.
The seven-member delegation represented the major parties of the German Parliament, namely Hornheus, Dietrich Mahlo from the Christian Democratic Union, Norbert Gansel and Elke Leonhard from the Social Democratic Party of Germany, Gerd Poppe from Federation 90/The Greens, Albert Probst from the Christian Social Union in Bavaria and Ulrich Irmer from the Free Democratic Party.
Despite the criticism, Hornheus acknowledged the willingness and understanding of Indonesian authorities to discuss the matter.
"We felt that there was an understanding with everyone we discussed it with. They never refused to discuss the question of Sri Bintang whether at a ministerial or parliamentary level. No one was ever offended (when we brought up the matter)," Hornheus explained.
Former legislator Sri Bintang Pamungkas of the Moslem-based United Development Party is currently under police investigation and could be charged for defaming President Soeharto for his alleged involvement in a demonstration against the president during a visit to Germany in April.
Bintang has since been recalled by his party and lost his seat in the House of Representatives.
Hornheus did not elaborate further on his views of the investigation of Bintang but hoped that the matter would be concluded expediently and in the best possible manner.
During their brief stay here the delegation met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, Minister of Trade Satrio Budiardjo Joedono and Coordinating Minister for Industry and Trade Hartarto.
Apart from several Indonesian legislators, the delegation also had meetings with Bintang himself, editor of the banned Tempo weekly Goenawan Mohamad, and human rights advocate Adnan Buyung Nasution.
When asked about the Indonesian issue that most concerned German people, Hornheus said it related to the excesses of accelerated development, which often proves detrimental to the lower classes.
"The existing gap between the rich and the poor should be given careful attention because if it becomes too wide it could cause an explosive situation," he said.
When asked if he agreed, Hornheus diplomatically replied "Well, you should know better than a delegation who has only been for two days."
The German parliamentarians left yesterday on the next leg of their Asian tour to Singapore and Malaysia. (mds)