Wiranto sues UI sociologist

Wiranto sues UI sociologist

BOGOR (JP): The Cibinong District Court began on Monday the
trial of a libel suit filed by former coordinating minister of
political and security affairs Gen. (ret.) Wiranto and three
other Army generals against the University of Indonesia (UI)
sociologist Thamrin Amal Tomagola.

Presiding judge Sareh Wiyono, however, adjourned the hearing
shortly after it was opened because neither the defendant nor his
lawyers were present.

Wiranto, also former Indonesian Military (TNI) commander and
the three other generals, Lt. Gen. Djadja Suparman, Lt. Gen.
Suaidi Marasabessy and Maj. Gen. Sudi Silalahi, were also absent
and represented by their lawyer Capt. Subagyo Santosa and Yanas
Daswar.

The court spokesman Roki Panjaitan said Thamrin was accused of
discrediting the army generals during his speech in front of
members of the United States Congress and representatives of some
non-governmental organizations in August last year.

In his speech, which was quoted by Ambon-based Siwa Lima
daily, Thamrin called Wiranto and the generals "provocateurs" and
masterminds of the prolonged communal clashes in Ambon, Maluku.

The generals' lawyer Subagyo denied the allegations and said
his clients demanded their names be rehabilitated on television
and in the national media plus Rp 100 billion in compensation.
(21)