Pijar activist denies insulting Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): An activist facing four years in prison for allegedly insulting President Soeharto denied all charges against him in his defense statement at the Central Jakarta District Court yesterday.

Tri Agus, an activist from the Pijar Foundation, said that he just reported an Adnan Buyung Nasution comment in the NGO's Kabar dari Pijar (News from Pijar) bulletin.

The insults were purportedly carried out via his articles, which quoted a statement by human rights activist Adnan Buyung Nasution about disorder in the country.

"Witness testimony proved that I just quoted Adnan Buyung Nasution's statement," Tri Agus, who is also the editor of the bulletin, told the judge. He reiterated that he was just reporting the situation following the government's decision to ban Tempo, DeTIK and Editor weeklies.

Kabar dari Pijar's June 1994 edition, which is being used by the prosecutor to sue Tri Agus, reported several demonstrations and meetings to protest the banning, including one held at the office of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH).

Director of LBH Adnan Buyung Nasution, in his speech at the meeting, criticized the government for carrying out the law by force.

Expert witness Atmakusumah said in his testimony that editors should not take responsibility for the content of statements made by another person.

Saying that the prosecutor's charge was groundless, Tri Agus' lawyer Bambang Widjayanto urged the judge to clear the defendant of all charges.

Prosecutor Baginda Lumban Gaol demanded on Aug. 28 that Tri Agus be sentenced to four years in prison for the alleged insult.

According to the prosecutor, Tri Agus has violated article 134 of the Criminal Code.

Under the law, anyone convicted under that article faces up to six years imprisonment. (29)