Permadi engaged in clandestine activities: ABRI
Permadi engaged in clandestine activities: ABRI
JAKARTA (JP): The controversy surrounding the allegedly blasphemous remarks of psychic Permadi Satrio Wiwoho continues to grow, with the Armed Forces (ABRI) now accusing him of engaging in clandestine activities.
Chief for ABRI general affairs Lt. Gen. Soeyono said yesterday that ABRI considers Permadi as a dangerous clandestine activist because he was using tactics that could endanger the stability and security of the nation.
"Permadi used clandestine tactics," Soeyono said, adding that the difference was that the soothsayer disguised his activities under different cloaks.
"It's just that he was wearing clothing other than those of the clandestine form, but the target was to undermine the government," he said. "We see him as a clandestine activist".
Antara news agency reported him saying that clandestine activists have clear target groups, which are ABRI, the President, the ruling political grouping Golkar, and Islam.
This attack is the latest, by various parties, against Permadi, who is now under police investigation for allegedly making blasphemous remarks about Prophet Muhammad, and for slander against Golkar and the government.
Soeyono was offended by Permadi, who reportedly said in a radio interview last year that the public should not trust the Central Java's Diponegoro regional military chief, a position Soeyono was holding at the time.
In response, Maj. Gen. M.B. Hutagalung, deputy to national police chief for operational affairs, told the press that the police are currently seeking evidence for the alleged clandestine activities. "If the accusation is proved, then this won't be a case of ordinary crime," Hutagalung said. "We're still looking for evidence, but for now our investigation is focused on the slander part."
He acknowledged that the authorities are taking it slow in their investigation of the case due to its "very sensitive nature", which calls for even higher thoroughness and accuracy.
"What's definite is that Permadi can be charged with unlicensed duplication of audio tapes," he said. "If this is the case, we can submit the dossier on him within this week."
The police are still seeking more evidence for other charges, including blasphemy, he said.
Investigation
A legal expert has called for comprehensive investigation on the case, taking into full consideration other factors, such as the context and condition during which Permadi purportedly made the offensive remarks.
Dr. Muladi, rector of the Semarang-based Diponegoro University, told The Jakarta Post that Permadi deserves due legal procedures, and that he cannot be tried using only the audio tapes as evidence.
"The causes, the context of the whole problems, have to be tracked down and contained in the dossier," he said. "Otherwise, there's a great possibility of a bias occurring."
Muladi said as long as there is strong evidence, the soothsayer can be taken to court, but that "in history, there has never been anybody brought to court for fortune telling".
However, he said Permadi could be tried if proof is found that the public was indeed disturbed by the circulating audio tapes containing Permadi's allegedly blasphemous remarks and his dire prediction of Indonesia's political future.
Dr. Amien Rais, chairman of the Muhammadiyah modernist-Moslem organization, said yesterday that the case "became big because it's been politicized". "Psychologically, this case is 60 percent finished, but because it's politicized, it's become even more complicated."
Amien was one of the speakers in a seminar last year during which Permadi was supposed to have made the offensive remarks.
The accusations against Permadi, from various parties, are increasing because "certain groups are politicizing the case".
Permadi, while asserting that his remarks had been taken out of context, has apologized to the public, especially the Indonesian Moslems. He has also asked for President Soeharto's pardon.
"The procedures left to be taken are only legal in nature, and should not be spiced with politicking," Amien said. "This case should be localized, we should not blow it out of proportion." (swe/har/29)