House denies meeting with Tomy

House denies meeting with Tomy

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The House of Representatives denied holding a secret meeting with
businessman Tomy Winata before it sought a clarification about
the recent attack on Tempo weekly's office from Tomy, Tempo
executives and the Press Council on Monday.

"My colleagues and I did not attend any meeting with Tomy
before the hearing with the respective sides. We're not that
naive," chairman of the House media commission Ibrahim Ambong
told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Ibrahim confirmed that commission staff has made contact with
Tomy by phone and in writing for administrative reasons.

"We did the same with Tempo and the National Police," Ibrahim
said.

Tomy's lawyer, Desmond J. Mahesa, was not available for
comment on Wednesday.

During the commission's meeting with National Police chief
Gen. Da'i Bachtiar and his subordinates, legislator Abdul Qadir
Djailani disclosed that several members of the commission had
secretly met Tomy before the Monday hearing without good reason.

Djailani, who did not name those who attended the meeting,
asked that the secret meeting be disclosed to the public to avoid
creating the impression that Tomy and legislators had colluded to
design a strategy on what Tomy should say during the hearing.

Legislator Effendi Choiri also said that he had heard that
some of his colleagues had attended a secret meeting at Borodubur
Hotel, Central Jakarta, part-owned by Tomy.

"However, I don't believe it," he said.

Djailani said that he had heard about the meeting from
legislator A.M. Luthfi. The latter told him that he had not yet
confirmed the issue.

"I expect it be clarified to avoid accusations of defamation,"
Djailani said.

On Monday, the media commission held a meeting with both Tomy
and Tempo magazine journalists following the recent attack by
people claiming to be sympathizers of Tomy on the Tempo office in
Central Jakarta.

Later on Tuesday, the commission met the National Police to
discuss the same issue.

The incident drew public attention recently after Tempo
journalist Ahmad Taufik revealed that police personnel had
appeared powerless against the attackers.

The attack has also sparked condemnation and strong protest,
especially from the media, which said it was a serious violation
of press freedom and that thuggery should be halted in the
interests of law enforcement.

On Tuesday, Da'i said the police knew Tomy, who donated a car
to them following last year's Bali bombings. Tomy is known as a
tycoon who has wide-ranging, close relations with government and
military officials.