NGOs Urge Susno Duadji to Drop Charges

A number of NGOs urge the former chief detective of the National Police, Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji to retract and drop his charge against Bambang Widodo Umar, a member University of Indonesia's teaching staff on Police Studies.

Susno reported Bambang to the Central Jakarta police for defamation through the mass media. Furthermore, the NGO representatives also request that the National Police does not process the charge for sake of its own good.

"Mr. Bambang had the capacity to express his opinion in the context of reformation for the National Police. That capacity is also guaranteed by the constitution chapter 28 E article 3. What was stated was only a confirmation of the discourse already developing among the people regarding the suspicion of corruption in Century Bank's case," said Haris Azhar from Kontras NGO.

Haris made the statement during a joint press conference by NGO representatives, Tuesd ay, at the Kontras office. Also present were Rafendy Djamin and Khoirul Anam (from working group on Indonesian human rights), Mufty Makaarim (IDSPS), and Oslan Purba (Kontras).

Haris and other NGO representatives think that the defamation charge lately has been misused to hamper human rights and antigraft activists in voicing any suspicion of violation.

"Susno's charge isn't the first, but it's becoming a pattern. Don't forget that we are in transition. The Criminal Code, which is a positive law, has always been an excuse for the National Police. And please note, that many chapters in the Criminal Code need revision because they violate human rights, including the part regarding defamation," stated Rafendi.

Mufty also warned that Bambang's statement is to give input to improve the National Police rather than to slander someone. "Criticism should be regarded as an input for improvement."

Furthermore, in the joint press conference the NGO representatives also support the National Police and the Corruption Eradication Commission to ride the current momentum to resolve Century Bank's case.