Akbar testifies against chief editor

JAKARTA: Akbar Tandjung, the chairman of the Golkar party, testified on Thursday against Rakyat Merdeka daily over the publication of a picture in the paper that allegedly defamed him.

"The picture, which was published by the daily on Jan. 8, 2002, has marred my reputation as a member of community, as House speaker and chairman of Golkar as well as head of my family," he told the South Jakarta District Court.

The chief editor of Jakarta-based daily, Karim Paputungan, went on trial after Akbar reported the paper to the police.

The newspaper published on its front page a caricature of a shirt-less Akbar, crippled, sweating and looking miserable.

During the trial, Karim's lawyer Erick S. Paat asked the judges to examine whether the caricature resembled Akbar. Akbar was willing to accept the request, but presiding judge Asnahwati rejected it. She said that Akbar's picture was sufficient to compare with that of the paper.

The trail was adjourned until next week.

Rakyat Merdeka offers what some would call tabloid-style journalism. It often publishes articles and caricatures of controversial politicians. Earlier this year, two of its editors were summoned by police for running stories deemed insulting to President Megawati Soekarnoputri. -- JP