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He Who Dares Not

 JAKARTA (JP): Leading human rights campaigner Marzuki Darusman rebuked
the police on Wednesday for naming American scholar Jeffrey Winters a
suspect for allegedly defaming Coordinating Minister for Economy,
Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita

Am I missing something here? Why is it that the police got involved in a
defamation case? As far as I know all Winters did was to accuse
Ginandjar, while serving as minister of mines and energy, had profited
handsomely from the renewal of mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia's
contract. Surely, this is a civil defamation case, not criminal
defamation. I even doubt that criminal defamation exists in the
Indonesian statue book.

According to Minister Muladi: "He is accused of insulting someone. This
is a warrant complaint offense, as laid down in the Criminal Code s
Article 316: a law drawn up to protect government officials from
insults. So, with or without a Ginandjar s complaint, the police have a
right to take the measure of the accusation," Muladi said.

Surely this is a clear left over from the Suharto regime. Anyway, if
Ginandjar really feels hat he has been defamed by Winters, he should sue
him in the US Court for millions and millions. He should have the real
gut to prove his case there and if he wins he will get his millions.
Instead hiding behind the police and let the police does the dirty work
for him. I suppose this is justice Indonesian style. Another case of
 jago kampung .

It is interesting to note that according to the Indo Observer that
 Muladi did however express respect for Winters, having returned to
Indonesia despite the threat of arrest preceding him. "He s a gentleman
with a lot of guts." How ironical, because, as a nation, it is exactly
what it lacks. No wonder Indonesia is going down the tube.

Regards - Chai Finnegan

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Didistribusikan tgl. 27 Mar 1999 jam 04:06:15 GMT+1
oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
http://www.Indo-News.com/
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