Soebadio accused of defamation

JAKARTA (JP): Former politician Soebadio Sastrosatomo has been accused of defaming President Soeharto in his book titled Era Baru, Pemimpin Baru: Badio Menolak Rekayasa Regim Orde Baru (New Era, New Leader: Badio Rejects the New Order Regime's Engineering).

The Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association's executive director, Hendardi, said Wednesday that police would summon the 78-year-old former House of Representatives member next Monday.

Police questioned Soebadio, the founder of the now defunct Indonesian Socialist Party, for more than seven hours Monday as a witness for his personal secretary Buyung Rachmat Buchori Nasution.

Buyung is being detained for allegedly possessing and distributing the banned book.

Soebadio was charged under the articles 134 and 137 of the Criminal Code and if found guilty faces a maximum six years jail.

On March 4, the attorney general, Singgih, banned the-22 page book saying it could provoke unrest and create a negative image of the government.

Soebadio was summoned and questioned by the attorney general four days after banning the book.

The attorney general has also summoned politicians, Ali Sadikin and Yusuf Ronodipuro, for allegedly asking the author to copy the book for them.

Ali Sadikin is a former Jakarta governor, while Yusuf is Indonesia's former ambassador to Argentina. (05)