TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) coordinator Haris Azhar has expressed his readiness in case the Indonesian National Police (Polri) summon him for questioning over death row convict Freddy Budiman’s allegations.
“On the report, I’m ready. The legal team is ready, the legal study team is ready, the data team is also ready,” Haris told Tempo Thursdayevening, August 4, 2016.
Thus far, according to Haris, he has had some 60 lawyers at his disposal to handle the case. “But there are more who want [to assist me]. It might reach a total of almost 100 lawyers hailed from various lawyer organizations,” he noted.
As of now, Haris said he had yet to be summoned by police in connection with reports filed by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Polri and the National Armed Forces (TNI). “But I have made contact with Polri, with Pak Boy (Police Public Relations Division chief). Also with the BNN, but not yet with the TNI, no,” he said.
Earlier, KontraS coordinator Haris Azhar had been reported to Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim) by the BNN, the TNI and Polri for defamation. Haris had been accused of violating the Law on Information and Electronic Transactions.
The reports against Haris were made following his statement in the media over Freddy Budiman’s testimony which says that the BNN, the TNI and Polri had been complicit in protecting the drug baron. Recently, Pemuda Panca Marga, an organization representing children of army veterans and retired police officers, had also reported him to police.
According to Haris, the reports made were a waste of time. “I’m thankful that reports had been made [against me]. But, a better way to channel their energy is to use it to uncover drug mafia and prove it,” he said.
Haris said that what he revealed in his statement have been something of an open secret. He also believed that the BNN, the TNI and Polri are committed to fighting against drug trafficking. “I think we should not venture into institutional ego and it would be better if they could consolidate with the society."
ANGELINA ANJAR SAWITRI
