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)