IPTN and the 'Post' extend dispute settlement deadline

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)