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)