Key witnesses on blasphemy questioned

Key witnesses on blasphemy questioned

JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General's Office continued the
investigation yesterday into psychic Permadi Satrio Wiwoho,
despite his apology to Indonesian Moslems and President Soeharto.

The Attorney General's Office questioned Gen. (ret.) Rudini, a
former Home Minister, in connection with Permadi's controversial
statements in a seminar at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, in
April last year and at a local radio station in March, last year.

Permadi is currently in police custody for his alleged
blasphemous statement that Prophet Muhammad was a dictator. He is
also being investigated for his prediction, aired by a Yogyakarta
radio station, that political calamity is looming this year.

Rudini denied that he was summoned by the Attorney General's
Office.

"I came to the Attorney General's Office on my own initiative,
after realizing that my name has often been mentioned as one of
the speakers at the seminar at Gadjah Mada," he told reporters.

"I would like to help the Attorney General's Office settle
this sensitive problem," he added.

Rudini said he was questioned by intelligence officers, while
he listened to the recording of Permadi's comments at the
seminar.

He said he recognized some of Permadi's statements but added
that he had left the convention room when Permadi made the
comments Moslems considered blasphemous.

Investigator Basrief Arief said the office would also
questioned Ali Hardi Kiai Demak, a legislator form the United
Development Party (PPP), and Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, a
legislator from the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), who were
also present at the seminar.

The office has so far questioned several of the seminar
attendants, including Adnan Buyung Nasution, Affan Gafar, a
political observer, Maria Soemardjono, Dean of the School of Law
at Gadjah Mada University, as well as several students.

National Police Headquarters also summoned yesterday human
rights campaigner and lawyer, Adnan Buyung Nasution, and chairman
of the Muhammadiyah Islamic Organization, Amien Rais. The two
were speakers at the seminar.

Nasution said that it was not true that Permadi had insulted
Prophet Muhammad or the Head of State.

"I will be the first person to challenge him if he said so,"
he said.

Reporters failed to interview Amien Rais, who disappeared
after questioning.

In Yogyakarta, Ramdlon Naning, one of Permadi's lawyers, told
The Jakarta Post by phone yesterday that Permadi has apologized
to the Indonesian Moslems and President Soeharto, regarding his
statement and prediction.

"I would like to apologize to Indonesian Moslems, if, because
of my poor knowledge on Islam, I have made a statement insulting
Prophet Muhammad," he quoted Permadi.

Also yesterday, Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher
said he would sue Permadi for accusing the ministry of embezzling
the money of people who will go on the haj pilgrimage to Mecca.

He did not specify on which occasion Permadi made the
statement, which Tarmizi said was "an insult to the ministry" and
clearly aimed at sowing hatred of the government. (imn/bsr)