NGO activist sues ex-legislator

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)