Ismail Hasan apologizes for 'Pelita' row

JAKARTA (JP): Senior politician Ismail Hasan Metareum has apologized to the family of the late Ali Moertopo whom he accused of "robbing" the United Development Party of its newspaper.

Ismail Hasan, the current chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), said he had no intention of discrediting Ali.

In a press statement issued on Thursday, he explained at length the banning of the Pelita daily from his party and the "takeover" by the ruling Golkar.

Ali, who was information minister between 1978 and 1983, had also been a member of Golkar's board of patrons.

Ismail said the daily used to belong to the PPP and function as its communication medium until it was taken by Golkar.

"The takeover was done during the changing of the daily's chief editor from a PPP member to a (representative) of another political grouping," Ismail was quoted as saying by the Republika daily. "This case wounded the hearts of PPP members."

"That was why I rejected (the opinion) that the takeover of Pelita was done through a change in investors," he said.

The relatives of Ali said they would file a libel lawsuit unless Ismail apologized for calling Ali a "robber".

Minister of Information Harmoko intervened in the row over the daily's political allegiance by stating that no newspapers belong to political parties and that all publications are owned solely by their publishers.

Pelita was closed by the government in May 1982. According to Ismail, the chief editor abandoned his membership in the PPP and joined Golkar. "Only then could Pelita resume publication...I told an interview with the Tiras weekly that I saw it as a robbery," Ismail said.

However, if the interview offended the family of Ali, "as a Moslem, I apologize", Ismail said.

Ali Mursalam, the younger brother of Ali Moertopo, said he was unsure if he would accept the apology or proceed with the planned lawsuit.

Pelita was once widely thought to be the "voice of the PPP". After reporting the results of the 1982 general elections based on "unofficial sources", its permit was revoked for four months.

On September 1982, it resumed publication, but with a major change in the editorial board. In 1985, some 60 percent of its shares were bought by Golkar leaders including Sarwono Kusumaatmaja, Akbar Tanjung and Abdul Gafur. (swe)