IPTN and the 'Post' extend dispute settlement deadline

JAKARTA (JP): Lawyers representing the state-owned aircraft maker PT IPTN and The Jakarta Post daily extended yesterday their dispute settlement deadline to July 30.

After their fourth meeting, both sides stated they had yet to agree upon the form of a compromise.

One of the Post's lawyers, Amir Syamsuddin, said that, while IPTN would not push on with its demand for compensation over an incorrect report on a CN-235 plane crash in May, the two parties would negotiate over IPTN's demand for an advertised apology and the Post's offer of a joint-communique.

In its report, the Post quoted an unnamed IPTN source who gave incorrect information on the cause of the CN-235 military version aircraft crash during a test flight to parachute drop a four-ton cargo at Gorda airbase in Serang, West Java. Six people died in the accident.

"Things are becoming simpler compared to what we had to take on in the previous three meetings and I'm optimistic we will reach a final decision in the fifth meeting," Amir said. The first meeting was in early June.

IPTN lawyer Mohammad Assegaff shared Amir's view, saying that the July 30 meeting would be the last one. "Whether we reach an agreement or not, we will stop negotiations on July 30. But the chance for an out-of-court settlement looks very great after four meetings," he said.

Assegaff said the two teams of lawyers had agreed that the daily would place advertisements in newspapers in Singapore, South Korea, the United States and Australia.

Amir said the advertisements would not carry the Post's apology as demanded by IPTN, but would rectify the inaccurate report and promote IPTN's aircraft.

Assegaff said the state-owned aircraft maker had asked for another newspaper but added that it was negotiable.

He said IPTN should have no reason to sue the Post because it had published more than 60 stories which promoted IPTN products over the past three years.

Assegaff said that IPTN would study the Post's offer for a joint-communique and hailed the lawyers' progress in the last four meetings.

He said a settlement should not be seen as IPTN punishing the Post.

"We have managed to maintain the spirit of finding an amicable settlement and my team will insist to our client that this is the best solution," Assegaff said. (amd)