'Tempo' steadfast on report despite denial by Rahardi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Tempo news weekly magazine defended on Wednesday
\nits cover story on the alleged apprehension of Minister of
\nIndustry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan's wife, Tumbu Astiani, at a
\nUnited States airport for alleged money laundering as a piece of
\nbalanced reportage.<\/p>\n
\"But if Minister Rahardi has a different opinion on that
\nmatter, it is entirely up to him whether to use his right of
\nrebuttal, or to take up the case in line with the due process of
\nthe law,\" the magazine said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Rahardi and his wife held a special press gathering at the
\nPulau Dua Restaurant on Tuesday, where he categorically denied
\nthe Tempo story, saying the reportage had damaged his and his
\nfamily's reputation.<\/p>\n
The minister said he would not bring a lawsuit against the
\nmagazine, but he said he expected its editors to be magnanimous
\nand issue an apology.<\/p>\n
The four-page cover story revolved mainly around wild rumors
\nregarding Ibu Tumbu Rahardi's alleged arrest with firm denials
\nissued by Indonesian diplomats in the U.S. and Singapore. Tempo
\nclaimed Rahardi's wife entered the U.S. in possession of
\nUS$600,000, violating American regulations. The magazine also
\nprovided a long interview with Rahardi himself, in which he
\nflatly denied the allegation. He said his wife was in Jakarta
\ninaugurating an exhibition on the alleged day in question -- June
\n17.<\/p>\n
Also on Wednesday, Tempo expressed regret over what it claimed
\nwas Rahardi's rude treatment of staffer, Ali Nur Yasin. After the
\nluncheon meeting, the reporter approached the minister in the
\nrestaurant's parking lot seeking details of the highly
\ncontroversial lifting of the sugar import duty.<\/p>\n
The magazine said its reporter, by seeking clarification on
\nthe issue with the minister, who also heads the National
\nLogistics Agency, was acting in the public interest.<\/p>\n
\"It is entirely immaterial as to whether our reporter was
\ninvited to the luncheon gathering or not. Ali accosted Rahardi as
\nthe most authoritative person regarding trade policy, in a public
\nplace, to ask for clarification about the sugar import policy.\"<\/p>\n
The magazine said Rahardi's ill treatment of Ali, who
\nperformed his job in an entirely professional manner, degraded
\nthe integrity of the ministerial office.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tempo-steadfast-on-report-despite-denial-by-rahardi-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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