Rachmad Buchori continues silent protest in court

Rachmad Buchori continues silent protest in court

JAKARTA (JP): Rachmad Buchori, accused of defaming the
President, kept up his silent protest in court as he refused to
answer questions or respond during the continuation of his trial
yesterday.

But after yesterday's proceedings, he voiced his resentment to
journalists, calling the trial "ridiculous".

Rachmad, alias Buyung, described the witnesses called at
yesterday's proceedings "irrelevant" and once again expressed his
bitterness that prosecutors had refused to bring forth the
injured party, President Soeharto, as requested by the court.

Buyung, 34, personal secretary to former politician Soebadio
Sastrosatomo, has been charged with defaming the President
through his involvement in the publishing of Soebadio's book.

The 22-page book, Era Baru Pemimpin Baru, Badio Menolak
Rekayasa Regim Orde Baru (New Era New Order, Badio Rejects the
New Order Regime's Engineering), was banned on March 4 by the
Attorney General's Office because it supposedly could provoke
unrest and create a negative image of the government.

The book was written by Soebadio, 78, founder of the now
defunct Indonesian Socialist Party.

Buyung's trial began on Aug. 5.

During the Sept. 4 hearing, Buyung's lawyers demanded that
President Soeharto himself be brought in to testify that he had
been defamed by the book as prosecutors claim.

The presiding judge at the South Jakarta District Court,
Suratman, concurred with the demand. But prosecutors twice failed
to present Soeharto.

Prosecutor Uri Hasan Basri argued that the contents of the
book itself was evidence of defamation.

Since then Buyung has refused to speak in court and had failed
to appear in court over the past two weeks.

Buyung attended the hearing yesterday only after he was
personally picked up at his residence in Tebet, South Jakarta, by
Uri Hasan Basri.

"I have never been willing to come to the trial ... why bother
to attend this ridiculous trial," Buyung told journalists
yesterday.

During yesterday's proceedings Buyung kept up his silence.

Prosecutors called on owners of CV Fatwa and Dunia Grafika
printing companies yesterday.

The two companies were printers for the book, but company
executives claim they had no knowledge of its content.

"I did not pay too much attention to the book's content," CV
Fatwa's owner Saifullah said. "I treat all the books the same ...
my duty is just to keep the manuscript from being damaged."

The trial was adjourned yesterday for two weeks. Soebadio is
scheduled to appear at the next trial. (10)