Luhut Polemic Question 'Play Mine', Haris Azhar's Lawyer: Our Client Has No Intention To Tarnish His Good Name

Luhut Pandjaitan/DOK SETKAB

JAKARTA - The attorney for the Executive Director of Lokataru Haris Azhar, Hendrayana, confirmed that his client did not intend to defame the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

This was conveyed by him in response to the subpoena submitted by Luhut through his legal counsel, Juniver Girsang due to Haris' video content with KontraS Coordinator Fatia Maulida. In the video, Luhut is said to have participated in 'playing mining' in Papua through the company PT Tobacom Del Mandiri, a subsidiary of the Toba Sejahtera Group.

"There is no intention of Mr. Haris here to slander, defame. This is solely for the public interest," said Hendrayana when contacted by VOI by telephone, Thursday, September 9.

He said that in the show, his client also only acted as a moderator whose job was to refute and ask questions about the issues being discussed. The data disclosed by KontraS is the result of research from a number of NGOs.

Moreover, Hendrayana said that his client had good intentions by inviting Luhut and his legal counsel to sit together and then discuss through his YouTube account to discuss this polemic.

"We want to try to discuss if there are objections. So far, our clients have been called libelous, slanderous, but we haven't said what and how," he said.

"So this forum is dignified. So that the public can know, 'oh, this is what Pak Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and KontraS said there are differences, there are misperceptions', for example. Right there. So the public can judge," he added.

This good faith, continued Hendrayana, was conveyed through a letter of reply to the summons on Wednesday, September 8 yesterday. He hopes that Luhut and his attorney can give a positive response.

However, if the opposite happens, he and the other team of attorneys will certainly be ready to deal with it.

"It would be better than the forum that was discussed with KontraS yesterday, it was also discussed in a forum not with a police report. But even if it was a step taken by Pak Luhut, we appreciate it and are ready to face it," said Hendrayana.

Previously, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan's lawyer, Juniver Girsang, assessed that Haris Azhar's YouTube content that offended his client was provocative.

At first, in a video interview with KontraS coordinator Fatia Maulida, Haris discussed the research results of a number of organizations, such as KontraS, Walhi, Jatam, YLBHI, Pusaka about the business of TNI AD officials or retirees behind the gold mine or plans to exploit the Wabu Block area in Intan Jaya, Papuans.

Fatia said there are a number of companies that play mining in the area. One of them is PT Tobacom Del Mandiri, a subsidiary of the Toba Sejahtera Group whose shares are owned by Luhut. Fatia also said that it could be said that Luhut was playing in the mining activities that took place in Papua today.

Fatia's statement was the reason Luhut filed a subpoena. This is because, said Juniver, the sentences conveyed contained very provocative, tendentious language, defamation, insults, and false news.

"Therefore, in our letter we stated to both Fatia and Haris Azhar to explain to us the motive, intent and purpose of uploading the video," he said when contacted on Saturday, August 28, 2021.

Juniver said the subpoena was sent to Haris and Fatia last Thursday. The subpoena was given for uploading a video entitled "There is a Lord Luhut Behind Intan Jaya's Economic Relations-Military Ops!! General BIN is also there!!” on Haris Azhar's Youtube account.

Juniver also emphasized that the statement about Luhut playing in the mining activities in Papua was not true. In his subpoena, Luhut also asked that the video interview on Haris Azhar's Youtube account be deleted.

If neither of them provide an answer within 5x24 hours, Juniver says it will apply for further proceedings. When asked about the possibility of reporting to the police, Juniver said he would think about further what charges his side would prepare against Haris and Fatia.