Sept. 25, p. 4

Legal reformer and senior advocate Adnan Buyung Nasution was taken to his final resting place at Tanah Kusir public cemetery in Jakarta on Thursday in a military ceremony to respect his legacy as a defender of the poor, after passing away at the age of 81.

He is remembered as a consistent and idealistic yet controversial attorney, human rights campaigner, legal reform initiator and legal activist for the unjustly prosecuted poor of the country, from the time of the first president Sukarno into the current Reform era.

Your comments:

True, there are lawyers who are despicable individuals, criminals in disguise, but there are also many lawyers who possess honesty and integrity. Those of us readers who chose law as our profession, and who are certain that we have done our best to defend people whose human rights were abused, to obtain justice for them, do not feel that we should be regarded as scoundrels.

Buyung was a good and courageous lawyer, defending the rich and the poor alike and for this, he earns our highest praise.

Firepooch

The news of Buyung'€™s passing has come as a great shock to all of us, Indonesians and foreigners alike, who knew his integrity, undaunted courage, brilliance and dedication to upholding the law, in defending human rights and democracy.

I sincerely wish we had more people like him, genuine legal eagles, whom we can truly respect and look up to.

My deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy go out to all members of his family and to all of those who were lucky to be befriended by this grand champion of the law.

Bang Buyung, may your soul travel swiftly to the light of the Creator and may you enjoy His love and blessings. Thank you very much for all your wonderful contributions to the establishment of justice in Indonesia.

Tami Koestomo
Bogor, West Java

Buyung fought especially for those who couldn'€™t afford to defend themselves owing to economic or political reasons.

During the Soeharto era, Buyung and his colleagues stepped in when other lawyers had abandoned the defendants for fear or repercussions from the oppressive regime.

May he rest in peace.

Fuad Nurhadi

I respect Buyung for his integrity and courage. His demise is a great loss for Indonesian law and the country itself. Quoting Shakespeare'€™s Hamlet, '€œHe was a man, take him for all in all. I shall not look upon his like again.'€

FP

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