Editor tried over defamation

Editor tried over defamation

JAKARTA: The executive editor of Jakarta-based Rakyat Merdeka
daily went on trial on Tuesday for publishing a series of
articles on President Megawati Soekarnoputri deemed defamatory.

Chief prosecutor Arnold Angkouw charged Supratman under
Article 137 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code with insulting the
president and vice president, which carries a maximum penalty of
16 months in jail.

According to the indictment, Rakyat Merdeka had published four
libelous articles on its front page between January and February.

Among the articles was one entitled Mulut Mega Bau Solar
(Mega's Mouth smells of diesel fuel), which was accompanied by a
picture depicting a fat woman drinking diesel fuel, as well as
that of Mega Lebih Kejam dari Sumanto (Mega is crueler than
Sumanto), referring to Sumanto who was going on trial in the
Central Java town of Purwokerta for eating the corpse of his
neighbor.

"The defendant knew that Megawati Soekarnoputri is the
President of the Republic of Indonesia and that he has never
smelt Megawati's mouth," said Arnold.

Arnold added that the defendant also knew that Megawati has
never eaten corpses.

Lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution said that the prosecution
revealed that Megawati was authoritarian and opposed to critics
as she considered her presidency sacred.

The daily is popular for its tabloid-style journalism. The
paper regularly publishes hilarious, sometimes cynical,
caricatures and stories mocking politicians.

Early this year, Akbar Tandjung, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, also sued the daily over a caricature he deemed
insulting. -- JP