Observers hail court's ruling on Tommy's suit<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Media observers hailed the Central Jakarta
\nDistrict Court's decision to reject a defamation lawsuit filed by
\na son of former president Soeharto against a weekly magazine,
\ncalling the judgment \"good\" and \"progressive\".<\/p>\n
Contacted separately by The Jakarta Post on Thursday, Dr.
\nSoetomo Press Institute executive director Atmakusumah
\nAstraatmadja, Independent Journalist Alliance chairman Lukas
\nLuwarso and the chairman of the city chapter of the Indonesian
\nJournalist Association, Marah Sakti Siregar, expressed their
\npleasure with the court's decision on Wednesday to throw out the
\nlawsuit filed by Hutomo \"Tommy\" Mandala Putra against Gatra
\nweekly magazine.<\/p>\n
\"It's very pleasing. I think the panel of judges learned and
\nunderstood the work of journalists,\" Atmakusumah said.<\/p>\n
He said the court's ruling set a favorable example and could
\nguide the press and the public in similar disputes over media
\nreports in the future.<\/p>\n
Agreeing with this sentiment, Lukas said in this case, the
\ncourt had no other choice but to reject Tommy's lawsuit.<\/p>\n
\"Tommy should not feel defamed because his name has already
\nbeen defamed with his alleged involvement in a number of cases,
\nsuch as the Timor national car project, etc.,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Siregar respected the court's decision, saying it was the most
\nprogressive decision ever handed down by the country's courts.<\/p>\n
\"In the future, trials over disputes between the press and the
\npublic can be settled in a speedier fashion since we have now set
\na precedent,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The court on Wednesday ruled the magazine had not been proven
\nguilty of defaming Tommy's name in its report on his alleged role
\nin trafficking shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine) in
\nAustralia.<\/p>\n
The court ruled Gatra had run a balanced story by seeking
\ncomments from Tommy's nephew and Australian Police, all of whom
\ndenied Tommy's involvement in drugs trafficking.<\/p>\n
Some analysts said Gatra's victory could also be seen as the
\nbeginning of the end of law enforcers' support of relatives of
\nthe former president.<\/p>\n
In the past, Soeharto banned several publications which were
\nconsidered too critical of him and his family.<\/p>\n
More lawsuits<\/p>\n
Lukas said the number of lawsuits filed against the press
\ncould increase in the future because of the tough competition in
\nthe media and a better-educated public.<\/p>\n
He therefore suggested the establishment of an independent
\npress council to settle disputes between the press and the public
\nbefore the disputes were brought to court.<\/p>\n
\"The council, which would consist of journalists, media
\nexperts and public leaders, could function as a mediator for
\ndisputing parties,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Atmakusumah called on the public to seek alternative forms of
\nmediation rather than immediately filing lawsuits, a process
\nwhich takes both time and money.<\/p>\n
\"It's better that people send a letter to the media and the
\nlater should also provide space for complaints,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Commenting on Soeharto's plan to sue United States-based Time
\nmagazine, Atmakusumah said it would be better for Soeharto to
\nreply to the magazine's report through a statement.<\/p>\n
The weekly recently reported the former president and his
\nfamily had amassed a US$15 billion fortune during his 32 years in
\npower.<\/p>\n
The magazine also reported that just before stepping down as
\npresident in May last year, $9 billion of the Soehartos' money
\nwas transferred from a Swiss bank to an Austrian bank. Soeharto
\nhas denied the allegations.<\/p>\n
One of Soeharto's lawyers, Muhammad Assegaf, said on Wednesday
\na lawsuit would be filed against the weekly in the near future.
\n(jun)<\/p>",
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