Guess What? Goenawan Mohamad

Guess What? Goenawan Mohamad

The Jakarta State Administrative Court came alive on Thursday
when Goenawan Mohamad, the former Chief Editor of the banned
Tempo newsweekly, was called as a witness in the case of former
Tempo employees against the Minister of Information Harmoko for
revoking the magazine's publishing license.

The packed courtroom was astonished by his clear and firm
answers to questions posed by the judges, the employees' lawyers
and Harmoko's lawyers.

When a lawyer for the minister asked him if Tempo had enough
money to compensate its employees in October, four months after
the magazine had been closed, he quickly responded, "No sir, we
did not have enough money to pay our employees."

"You are not supposed to continue asking that question," he
explained to Soeryadi W.S., one of Harmoko's lawyers, repeating
Chief Judge Benjamin Mangkoedilaga's order that the lawyer not
ask questions out of context.

Later, he cried while relating the story of one reporter who
was deeply upset after losing his job at the magazine.

Goenawan Mohamad also acted the part of a prudent politician
when he helped the presiding judge calm down the noisy court.

"Silent please!" he demanded, raising his right hand towards
the noisy crowd. The crowd shut up immediately. (imn)