Soebadio accused of defamation

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)