Gus Dur plans to sue media for spreading lies

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)