Gus Dur plans to sue media for spreading lies

JAKARTA (JP): The government is so concerned about the credibility of press coverage of beleaguered President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid that it plans to take legal action against media organizations that spread lies, a presidential lawyer said on Wednesday.

Luhut M.P. Pangaribuan, a member of the President's team of lawyers, said the complaints would focus on imbalanced and inaccurate reports concerning the President.

"The President and his close aides plan to take legal action against the media organizations for blowing out of proportion cases surrounding the President.

"The news reports, unfortunately, lack data and accuracy, thereby discrediting the President," Luhut told The Jakarta Post over the phone.

Luhut declined to identify the errant media, but noted that "it could include all media, both local and foreign, circulating in the country".

Luhut further said that even though the government was committed to upholding press freedom, the media should be mindful of their code of ethics.

"I guess legal action is more appropriate than the use of power (in tackling the media)." Luhut said.

Earlier in the day, presidential spokesman Adhie M. Massardie said that a team of presidential lawyers had been established. It includes, among others, Luhut and constitutional law expert Harun Alrasid.

Adhie said that firm action was necessary in response to news which the President considered not based on facts.

"Like reports that the President plans to step down or news that some ministers had signed something in front of Ibu Mega (Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri). These are all lies which were published only to disrupt the market.

"Such stories have disturbed the public and presidential affairs, so the President has decided to take legal action against such media representatives," he said.

He added that Harun had suggested the lawsuit would relate to defamation against the President and Vice President which is stipulated in Article 134 of the Criminal Code. The article carries a maximum sentence of six-years imprisonment.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Press Council Atmakusumah Astraatmadja criticized the government's plan, calling it another ruse to control the press.

"For Gus Dur, as a state official, it is very easy to claim that certain news has discredited or slandered him. Rather than taking legal action, it would be better for him to build good communications with the media in every instance," Atmakusumah told the Post..

"Gus Dur feels that the media has been criticizing him excessively, but isn't that what the media must do. The media plays a role with the government as a social control agent."

Atmakusumah predicted that the legal action would not receive popular support.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court chief elect Bagir Manan supported the President's plan to bring fraudulent media to court, saying it complied with the move to maintain justice in the country.

Bagir suggested that the media should not worry about the plan.

"It's the correct way to settle the matter in an impartial institution, namely the court," he said after installing two of the court's deputy chief justices.(02/bby)