Akbar testifies against chief editor<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: Akbar Tandjung, the chairman of the Golkar party,
\ntestified on Thursday against Rakyat Merdeka daily over the
\npublication of a picture in the paper that allegedly defamed him.<\/p>\n
"The picture, which was published by the daily on Jan. 8,
\n2002, has marred my reputation as a member of community, as House
\nspeaker and chairman of Golkar as well as head of my family," he
\ntold the South Jakarta District Court.<\/p>\n
The chief editor of Jakarta-based daily, Karim Paputungan,
\nwent on trial after Akbar reported the paper to the police.<\/p>\n
The newspaper published on its front page a caricature of a
\nshirt-less Akbar, crippled, sweating and looking miserable.<\/p>\n
During the trial, Karim's lawyer Erick S. Paat asked the
\njudges to examine whether the caricature resembled Akbar. Akbar
\nwas willing to accept the request, but presiding judge Asnahwati
\nrejected it. She said that Akbar's picture was sufficient to
\ncompare with that of the paper.<\/p>\n
The trail was adjourned until next week.<\/p>\n
Rakyat Merdeka offers what some would call tabloid-style
\njournalism. It often publishes articles and caricatures of
\ncontroversial politicians. Earlier this year, two of its editors
\nwere summoned by police for running stories deemed insulting to
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri. -- JP<\/p>",
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