Secretary charged with libel

JAKARTA (JP): The personal secretary of former politician Soebadio Sastrosatomo was charged yesterday with defaming President Soeharto by helping publish his employer's banned book.

Prosecutor Uri Hasan Basri told the South Jakarta District Court that Rachmad Buchori alias Buyung R.B., 34, was the one who typeset the banned book titled Era Baru, Pemimpin Baru (New Era, New Leader).

Uri charged the defendant with violating Article 134 of the Criminal Code which carries a maximum six years in jail for defaming the president.

The book was written by Soebadio, 78, the founder of the now defunct Indonesian Socialist Party. According to the prosecutor, Soebadio dictated the script while Buyung typed.

On March 4, the Attorney General's Office banned the 22-page publication, saying it could provoke unrest and create a negative image of the government.

Soebadio was summoned and questioned by the attorney general two days after the book was banned for its content, which allegedly discredited the government and the Armed Forces.

Soebadio himself is also facing the same charges as Buyung, but is currently not under arrest.

Buyung's team of lawyers from the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) said their client was first charged with printing pamphlets which allegedly discredited the government and the Armed Forces.

"But questioning by police quickly began focusing on his involvement in making the book ," PBHI stated.

Buyung was arrested on March 19 and is currently being detained at Cipinang Prison in East Jakarta.

Soebadio, a former House of Representatives member, was also questioned by Jakarta Police in May as a witness against Buyung.

Yesterday's session was the third, after the first two were canceled due to Buyung's absence. According to PBHI, Buyung refused to appear in court the first two occasions because the summonses were not delivered according to proper procedures. (05)