'Suara Pembaruan' staff file lawsuit<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Journalists at Suara Pembaruan, one of
\nIndonesia's oldest and leading newspapers, have accused its
\ngeneral manager and publisher of libeling them by wiping their
\nnames from the daily's mast head.<\/p>\n
Seven journalists, who have worked for the newspaper for
\nbetween seven and 18 years, blamed General Manager Albert
\nHasibuan and PT Media Interaksi Utama, the publishing company,
\nfor the libel.<\/p>\n
They said they are still working for the newspaper but their
\nnames have been removed from the editorial staff membership since
\nJan. 2.<\/p>\n
\"They have damaged our reputation as journalists,\" Petron
\nCurie Nadeak, the group's leader told reporters after a hearing
\nof the suit at the East Jakarta district court. The hearing is
\nthe culmination of the two-year-old case.<\/p>\n
Hasibuan, who is also a member of the National Committee of
\nHuman Rights and of the House of Representatives Law Commission,
\ndid not appear at yesterday's hearing.<\/p>\n
In November 1994, the publisher applied for permission from
\nthe Local Committee for Resolving Labor Disputes to dismiss the
\njournalists but the request was turned down.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Journalists Association, the Ministry of
\nInformation, and the Ministry of Manpower, at the behest of the
\njournalists, have advised the daily's management to solve the
\nproblem amicably, Nadeak said.<\/p>\n
But the accused refused to heed the request, even after the
\njournalists appealed to the Central Committee for Resolving Labor
\nDisputes, Kooswadi, a senior journalist in the group, said.<\/p>\n
Petron, the group leader, added that \"formerly we only
\nreceived 50 percent of our salary, but for the last 10 months we
\nhave been left unpaid.\"<\/p>\n
The journalists said they could not understand the situation
\nbecause they hold at least 32 percent of the shares in the
\ncompany.<\/p>\n
Rem Patikawa and John Kusnadi, trustees of PT Media Interaksi
\nUtama, the newspaper's publisher, told The Jakarta Post yesterday
\nthat they could not comment as they still have to study the
\nlawsuit.<\/p>\n
The hearing was adjourned until March 26. (16)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/suara-pembaruan-staff-file-lawsuit-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }