INDONESIA LOSES JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS CHAMPION ADNAN BUYUNG NASUTION by Fardah

Jakarta, Sept 26, 2015 (Antara) - Indonesia has lost one of its best-known sons, prominent lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution, recognized as a champion of human rights and justice.

        Nasution, 81, died of kidney failure at Pondok Indah Hospital on Sept. 23 and was buried the next day at Tanah Kusir Public Cemetery in South Jakarta, with full military honors. Chief Economic Minister Darmin Nasution acted as the inspector at the funeral ceremony.

         The lawyer's daughter, Pia Akbar Nasution, told the press that her father began experiencing heart problems shortly after his acid reflux began acting up, due to a recent tooth extraction surgery, which did not allow him to eat solid foods.

        "Please forgive all of his wrongdoings. May he earns a place by His side," Pia Akbar Nasution added.

       Known for being steadfast and idealistic, Buyung Nasution was a recipient of the "Bintang Mahaputra" star awarded by then-President B.J. Habibie in 1999 for his service as deputy chief of the General Elections Commission (KPU).

        The late Nasution was entitled to be interred at the Hero Cemetery, but his family chose to bury him beside the grave of his oldest son in a public cemetery.

       Born in Batavia, now Jakarta, on July 20, 1934, Nasution had been active in the field of law since his youth.

          As a pioneer in legal aid and law reforms in Indonesia, Buyung earned his bachelor's degree in law from the University of Indonesia, an International Law degree from the University of Melbourne, a doctorate degree from Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht in the Netherlands, as well as a Professor of Law from Melbourne Law School, the University of Melbourne in Australia.

         He was a public prosecutor at the Special District Court of Jakarta from 1957 to 1961.

          Following that, he became the Head of Public Relations and Politics at the Attorney General's Office between 1962 and 1968.

          Simultaneously, he was a member of the Indonesian Parliament during the 1966-1968 period.

          In 1969, Buyung was admitted to the bar as an advocate and founded the law firm, Adnan Buyung Nasution and Associates.

         A year later, in 1970, he established the Legal Aid Institute (LBH), the first legal aid and human rights organization in Indonesia.

          Buyung held the position of vice chairman of the KPU in 1999, which conducted the first general elections in the reform era.

         Fluent in English and Dutch, Buyung Nasution became a member of the Presidential Advisory Council of the Republic of Indonesia from 2007-2009.

         Upon receiving news of Nasution¿s demise, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) offered his condolences, while on a working visit to South Kalimantan Province.

        The president described Nasution as an Indonesian role model.

        "Buyung was a human rights activist who was honest and possessed high integrity, as well as demonstrated professionalism, in performing his duties," Jokowi noted.

         Further, acting Chief of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Taufiequrrahman Ruki viewed Buyung Nasution as a noted legal figure who was always consistent and courageous in taking actions.

        "Bang (Brother) Buyung was a consistent figure and a man of principles. He had the courage to hold different opinions, irrespective of the risks," Ruki said.

         Ruki said he knew him when he was still a student at the military academy in 1970.

        "Bang Buyung was a noted lawyer and a consistent, phenomenal, and legendary figure who advocated for the principles of democracy and human rights. He had qualified academic capabilities," Ruki remarked.

        "Besides being a formulator of the KPK law, along with other lawyers, Nasution was also once a member of the KPK leaders' selection committee," he added.

        Prof Jimly Asshiddiqie, former chairman of the Constitutional Court (MK), is of the view that Adnan Buyung Nasution was a national law and justice hero.

         "Hopefully, his spirit in fighting for justice could become an example for us in implementing law enforcement in Indonesia," Jimly Asshiddiqie said.

        Non-active deputy chairman of the KPK Bambang Widjojanto described Nasution as a very consistent and honest lawyer.

        "I think a person like him is very rare," said Wodjojanto, a lawyer.

        Nasution often contributed his ideas on humanity and justice, he added.

         Further,  Attorney General's Office Spokesman Amir Yanto noted that the late Adnan Buyung Nasution was an outspoken legal expert and practitioner.

         "Besides being outspoken, Buyung was a capable person who had the courage to defend the truth," he said here on Wednesday.

         Therefore, Indonesian legal practitioners will miss someone who really had the courage of his convictions to stand up for the truth, he said. ***2***
(f001/INE/a014)


(T.F001/A/BESSR/A. Abdussalam) 26-09-2015 14:43:34