Bekasi vice regent apologizes

Bekasi vice regent apologizes

JAKARTA (JP): Bekasi vice regent, Dede S., apologized for
stating that the local press are gossip mongers during a speech
yesterday.

Dede said he regretted what he had just told the audience at a
collective labor agreement ceremony between 13 private companies
and their unions.

In his address on behalf of the regent, Dede said that Bekasi
had made significant progress in boosting cooperation
between businesses and workers.

"However, security is inferior as robbery and rape records are
getting higher. Bekasi has poor security forces, so it is
understandable that security in Bekasi isn't good. This has been
exasperated by the press which prefers spreading gossip to
writing facts," Dede was quoted by Antara as saying.

The statement got a prompt response from reporters at the
ceremony. They asked the vice regent what he meant by his gossip
mongering accusation.

"It was a mistake. I apologize to you all. Take that sentence
as an off-the-record statement," Dede offered.

He said he withdrew his statement, telling reporters he was
upset by media reports that claimed he had shares in several
private companies.

Indonesian law prohibits civil servants from having shares in
a private company.

The enraged reporters told him he could not arbitrarily brand
the press gossip mongers.

"If there are some of us have made false reports about you,
you just name them and make a correction, but don't say that the
press, which could mean the national press, prefers selling
gossip to writing the facts," one reporter countered. (sur)