Mega told to make peace with daily<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: Some circles in the House of Representatives have
\ncalled for an end to President Megawati Soekarnoputri's legal
\ndispute with Rakyat Merdeka daily, saying the government was in
\ndire need of support from the press for many of its policies.<\/p>\n
\"There is no need for us to be at odds with the press even
\nthough we understand that many of the daily's criticisms through
\nits articles and stories are too excessive and unreasonable,\" a
\nHouse member representing the United Ummat Sovereignty faction,
\nAsnawi Latif, told the media here on Friday.<\/p>\n
He said at present the government was facing many difficult,
\ncomplicated and critical problems, such as the settlement of the
\nAceh conflict.<\/p>\n
All the problems would certainly require more support from the
\npress to counter foreign pressure.<\/p>\n
\"Why should we waste our energy only for one particular
\ndaily,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"If the daily violates the code of ethics, it'd be better for
\nthe government to just reprimand it as one would reprimand a
\nnaughty child,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The executive editor of the Jakarta-based daily, Supratman, is
\nstanding trial for publishing a series of articles on the
\nPresident deemed defamatory.<\/p>\n
According to the indictment, the daily had published four
\nlibelous articles on its front page between January and February.
\nSupratman was charged under Article 137 paragraph 1 of the
\nCriminal Code with insulting the president and vice president,
\nwhich carries a maximum penalty of 16 months in prison. -- Antara<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mega-told-to-make-peace-with-daily-1447893297",
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