'DeTAK' takes Syarwan's complaint in its stride

JAKARTA (JP): Newly launched DeTAK tabloid has said it is unfazed by a police complaint filed by Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid, adding that he turned down offers to give his side of the story in the disputed editions.

Chief editor Eros Djarot told The Jakarta Post here yesterday the publication had not received a formal copy of the complaint, but said he was "relaxed, albeit ready" to face a possible legal battle.

"But there's one thing that must be remembered: Government officials in this country must never ignore the people's rights to information.

"We are professional journalists, we won't let anyone ever insult us," said Eros, who is also a renowned movie director.

Police detective unit chief Col. Edi Darnadi on Thursday said the National Police headquarters' language experts would begin studying editions 002 and 003 of the tabloid after a compliant of defamation of Syarwan was lodged by the ministry's legal bureau.

In the editions, Syarwan, while serving as the Armed Forces chief of sociopolitical affairs, was alleged to have been involved in the ouster of Megawati Soekarnoputri as chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) in June 1996.

Syarwan was also allegedly involved in the bloody takeover of the PDI headquarters here a month later.

Eros argued Syarwan was asked several times to give his account of the story for the two editions.

"We called him up and tried to set an interview with him, even submitting to him a list of questions.

"We tried to convince him (to tell his side of the story) to anticipate possible public attacks caused by the reports... but he turned it down."

Eros said the tabloid would print Syarwan's side of the story if the latter wanted to use his right to do so.

"Oh yes, of course! We are open. How many pages (would he like)?" Eros said.

Police said the complaint accused the tabloid of violating articles 310 and 311 of the Criminal Code, which cover defamation and libel. (aan)