Kendari rejects Tomy Winata money

Kendari rejects Tomy Winata money

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: In the third rally in six days, 100 reporters from the provincial capital of Kendari gathered on Wednesday to reject Tomy Winata's investment plans in the province as part of a nationwide protest against the Tempo incident in Jakarta.

Local reporters raised concerns that investments from Tomy would invite thuggery into the province.

"Thuggery is part of terrorism, so all of us must fight it," said Kompas's reporter in Kendari, Yamin Indas.

He was referring to the attack on Tempo staff by Tomy's supporters earlier this month. Reporters and activists throughout the country have gone all out to condemn the incident.

Tomy, who owns the Artha Graha business group, has been in Kendari since Tuesday. It remains unclear what his intentions in the province entail.

He has reportedly donated 10 motorcycles to local police and offered a scholarship of Rp 2 billion (about US$224,000) to the Haluoleo University in Kendari.

Yamin said the media supported any investor wanting to come to the province, but would reject investments linked to thuggery. -- Antara