Secretary charged with libel

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)