Permadi and Bintang cases

Permadi and Bintang cases

From Sinar

The Permadi and Sri Bintang Pamungkas cases are new phenomena in our social and political life. Permadi was accused of making a blasphemous statement regarding the Prophet Mohammad, and Sri Bintang was accused of organizing and supplying materials for a demonstration against President Soeharto in Germany.

Some high ranking officials, political figures as well as Islamic and armed forces leaders have made statements ignoring the "presumption of innocence," thereby making them scapegoats and condemning them as guilty. On the other hand, many others know what happened and have had the guts to defend Permadi and Bintang.

The people, particularly the young, were incited to hold demonstrations against the two suspects. They were geared to take the law into their hands.

I was wondering how such important figures could so easily accuse Permadi of carrying out a clandestine (or subversive) activity aimed at toppling the President and the government. And Sri Bintang was accused of insulting the President. Can they prove it? The accusers acted as if they were singing in a choir.

I hope that Permadi and Sri Bintang are treated properly and given a fair trial. It is the court that should decide whether they are guilty or not. The authorities should never use their power to influence judges, who must be able to work properly and objectively, free from external pressures and in accordance with the valid provisions of the law. It is much better for the judges, if they are in doubt in deciding their verdict, to free a guilty man rather than penalizing an innocent one.

SUHARSONO HADIKUSUMO

Jakarta