Wiranto wins libel case against sociologist<\/p>\n
Theresia Sufa and Debbie A. Lubis, The Jakarta Post, Bogor\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Cibinong District Court found sociologist Tamrin Amal Tomagola
\nand Jawa Pos daily guilty on Thursday in a libel case against
\nformer Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto and
\nthree other high-ranking military officials.<\/p>\n
In the hearing presided over by Judge Indah Sulistyowati, the
\ncourt ordered Tamrin and the daily to pay Rp 50 million
\n(US$5,549) to the litigants in compensation for immaterial
\nlosses.<\/p>\n
It also asked them to make a public apology on the front page
\nof five dailies for three days in a row and six television
\nchannels and cover all expenses resulting from the case which
\namounted to Rp 994,000.<\/p>\n
The apology should read: \"I Dr. Tamrin Amal Tomaloga apologize
\nto Bapak Wiranto, Bapak Djaja Suparman, Bapak Suaidi Marassabesy,
\nand Bapak Sudi Silalahi for circulating lies and slander to the
\npublic. I declare that Bapak Wiranto, Bapak Djaja Suparman, Bapak
\nSuaidi Marassabesy, and Bapak Sudi Silalahi have never plotted
\nsectarian conflict in Maluku, and Bapak Djaja Suparman has never
\nthreatened me\", the verdict said.<\/p>\n
The court also demanded that Jawa Pos drop the news, and
\nannounce the correction in Jawa Pos, Siwalima, Kompas, Suara
\nPembaruan, and Pos Kota.<\/p>\n
The case evolved from an article in Maluku-base daily Siwalima
\npublished on page 3 of the Aug. 4, 2000 edition, which quoted
\nTamrin as saying that Wiranto, Lt. Gen. Djaja Suparman, Lt. Gen.
\nSuadi Marassabesy, Maj. Gen. Sudi Silalahi had masterminded
\nsectarian conflicts in the country. The news was taken from
\njawapos.com, the website of Surabaya-based Jawa Pos daily.<\/p>\n
\"The courage to file a lawsuit alone is exceptional for
\nmilitary personnel who always come under public criticism. I
\nthink this is the first time this has been done because in many
\ncases, military personnel who are slandered are reluctant to file
\nlawsuits,\" former Maluku military commander Suaidi said.<\/p>\n
Tamrin, a lecturer at the University of Indonesia, appealed
\nthe verdict.<\/p>\n
His team of lawyers from Jakarta Legal Aid Institute said the
\njudges had misinterpreted the facts and the legal aspects by
\nusing secondary witnesses who obtained information from Siwalima.<\/p>\n
The jawapos.com online has never been part of evidence during
\nthe trial, while Jawa Pos daily has denied that such an article
\nwas ever published.<\/p>\n
Tamrin told The Jakarta Post later in the day that he would
\nprepare evidence to show the military's involvement in the three
\nyears of sectarian conflict in Maluku.<\/p>\n
He said the judges had only used the witness' statements
\npartially and missed the context in a bid to build arguments to
\nprove he was guilty.<\/p>\n
Tamrin said that he was suspicious about a late intervention
\nof a third party in the trial. He said he saw a BMW with
\nregistration number B 666 BS before the trial began. The
\nregistration number BS is commonly used by top ranking officials
\nor ministers.<\/p>\n
\"The trial started at 12:15 p.m., more than two hours late due
\nto an internal meeting of judges. Part of the verdict was written
\nby hand, so that one of the judges asked another judge to read
\nit. This means there were some changes made at the last minute.
\nAll the statements in the verdict should have been typed because
\nit had been prepared days before,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Press Council chairman Atmakusumah told the Post that the
\npress should keep its pride in the eyes of the public by not
\neasily giving in due to complaints.<\/p>\n
\"If the press are willing to publish an apology for several
\ndays in various media every time someone is offended, it will
\nhave no respect and pride anymore in the public's eyes. It should
\nbe proud and show its professionalism by keeping on fighting for
\npress freedom,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He, however, reminded the press to always cover both sides in
\nwriting stories and give objective arguments so that reports
\nwould have a legal basis.<\/p>\n
\"Many public figures in this country are not ready to hear
\nunpleasant news. They are not satisfied until they take legal
\naction because they only consider their reputation. Actually, the
\nsolution is simple, just use your the right to clarify if you
\nfeel offended or slandered,\" he said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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