NGO activist sues ex-legislator

JAKARTA (JP): A non-governmental organization activist has filed a lawsuit with National Police Headquarters, demanding that police prosecute former House of Representatives (DPR) legislator Muhammad Buang for alleged defamation.

Muhammad Ali, chairman of the People's Struggle Mandate (Ampera), said the former legislator had made a slanderous statement about Indonesia's minority population of Arab descent.

"Buang once said that the government didn't need to invite Arab countries to invest here, since in this country, those of Arab descent are generally usurers," Ali, who identified himself as also being of Arab descent, said on Tuesday after filing the lawsuit.

He said Buang, a former legislator of the United Development Party (PPP) faction, made the statement during a morning talk show aired by the Elshinta radio station, which broadcasts from the Graha Mustika Ratu building in South Jakarta, last May.

The talk show, entitled "The National Economy Faces Global Competition", featured speakers including former minister of finance Fuad Bawazier and former minister of investment and state enterprise development Laksamana Sukardi.

"Buang was about to put questions to Fuad Bawazier, when he made the slanderous statement," Ali said.

During his visit to police headquarters, Ali allowed journalists to listen to the recorded discussion.

Herwin, a staffer at PT Radio Elshinta, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday night that Ali bought the tape recording for Rp 100,000 from the radio station on Monday.

Buang was not available for comment. (asa)