Ismail Saleh launches book about his legal career

Ismail Saleh launches book about his legal career

JAKARTA (JP): Former attorney general and justice minister
Ismail Saleh launched a book on Saturday in commemoration of his
70th birthday.

Ismail Saleh's 70th Birthday: From Serious to Light Moments
compiles 51 articles about him and his career written by 51 well-
known figures in the country.

The contributors are Ismail's former superiors, employees,
friends, government officials, a former prisoner, his critics,
lawyers and journalists.

Among them are former vice president Sudharmono, State
Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono, State Minister of National
Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Attorney General
Singgih and former home affairs minister Gen.(ret.) Rudini.

Others include lawyer T. Mulya Lubis, senior journalist
Goenawan Mohamad and Arswendo Atmowiloto -- the chief editor of
the defunct Monitor tabloid who was once jailed for slandering
Prophet Muhammad.

Several foreign dignitaries also contributed to the book,
including former Chinese Minister of Justice Cai Cheng.

A number of the contributors were among the 100 people
attending Ismail's birthday party at the Attorney General's
Office.

The book is about Ismail's career and his views on legal
matters. It also details his achievements from his days as a
soldier during the independence war in the 1940s until he became
attorney general and finally minister of justice.

The 533-page book was published by the Tridaya Foundation and
edited by journalists Lerman Sipayung from the Suara Karya daily,
Abun Sanda from Kompas and Suhartono from Jakarta Jakarta
magazine.

Ismail said he decided against writing an autobiography
because he was too old to recall his past. (16)