Jakarta high court upholds Bintang's jail sentence

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta High Court last week upheld the verdict passed by a lower court against controversial politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas for defaming President Soeharto during a seminar in Berlin in 1995.

The High Court's verdict, which reached Bintang Monday, rejected the politician's appeal and maintained the sentence of 34 months of imprisonment issued by the Central Jakarta District Court in May last year.

Bintang has said he would appeal to the Supreme Court.

"We will appeal to the Supreme Court within 14 days," Bintang announced yesterday.

The High Court supported the lower court verdict that Bintang made slanderous remarks against President Soeharto, calling the latter a dictator and a violator of the 1945 Constitution, in a lecture before Indonesian students in the German capital in April 1995.

Bintang, however, questioned the High Court delay in delivering the verdict. "I knew about the High Court's verdict in September, while formal notice reached me on Dec. 30," he said.

Bintang expressed his belief that a political maneuver was behind the delay. He also said he was convinced the Supreme Court would decide on his planned appeal before the general election in May.

He said he was also sure the Supreme Court's decision would be made just before the overseas travel ban slapped on him expires on April 18.

He stressed, however, he had no regrets whatsoever for his remarks and activities in the past.

"I have to be able to become an example of an Indonesian citizen who won't surrender in the fight for democracy here. I am ready to spend the rest of my life in jail, if the Supreme Court later decides that I am guilty," he said.

Bintang had represented the United Development Party (PPP) in the House of Representatives from 1992. He lost his seat in May 1995 during the course of the police investigation.

The PPP leaders said one of the reasons for Bintang's dismissal was because his line on many political issues repeatedly contradicted the official party line.

Bintang established his own political party in May last year, the unrecognized Indonesian Democratic Union Party and announced his intention to run for president in 1998. (imn)