Tabloid managing editor called in for defamation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police on Monday summoned the managing
\neditor of the new biweekly Warta Republik tabloid to answer
\nallegations of defamation, following a lawsuit lodged by the
\ncountry's former vice president Try Sutrisno.<\/p>\n
City police spokesman Lt. Col. Edward Aritonang confirmed the
\nsummons and alleged that the tabloid had gone too far in abusing
\npress freedom, just being enjoyed by the Indonesian media after
\nmore than three decades of repression under the Soeharto regime.<\/p>\n
In one of its latest editions, the tabloid ran a story on the
\nillicit and competitive affairs between Try Sutrisno and former
\nminister of defense and security Edi Sudradjat over a widow,
\nidentified only as Nani, Aritonang said.<\/p>\n
\"They (the tabloid) can not have covered both sides as there
\nis no confirmation at all from either Pak Try or Pak Edi
\nSudradjat,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Although Monday's summons was the first, the tabloid's
\nmanaging editor, Hoessein Madili, had already been named as a
\nsuspect by the police on account of the imbalanced report,
\nAritonang said.<\/p>\n
The tabloid's general manager Abdul Manaf told reporters: \"We
\nhave reliable sources for our story although we didn't crosscheck
\nwith those related parties.\"<\/p>\n
Accompanied by lawyer Masiga Bugis, Hoessein was questioned at
\nthe city police headquarter for more than three hours.<\/p>\n
Separately, Try Sutrisno's lawyer Amir Syamsuddin said that
\nthe tabloid planned to publish the corrected version of the story
\nthis week but it did not mean that he would drop the charges.<\/p>\n
\"We will proceed with our lawsuit,\" he said, adding that he
\ndeeply regretted the tabloid's failure to 'check and recheck'
\nwith the other related parties in their report.<\/p>\n
Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus had reiterated and
\nrepeatedly reminded the press not to abuse its freedom and said
\ncriminal charges would be brought against any publications which
\ncould be found guilty of violating the regulations.<\/p>\n
According to data from the ministry of information, at least
\n90 permits for new publications had been signed and issued up to
\nAugust from the time of Soeharto's resignation in May.<\/p>\n
However, since May as well, at least two other press
\npublications had been summoned by police for their false
\ncoverage. (emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tabloid-managing-editor-called-in-for-defamation-1447893297",
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