'Merdeka' newspaper shuts down temporarily

'Merdeka' newspaper shuts down temporarily

JAKARTA (JP): The 53-year-old Merdeka newspaper has
temporarily shut down its operations since April 23 due to
"internal company matters", its founder announced on Monday.

However, another daily with an almost identical masthead,
Rakyat Merdeka, hit the street on April 23, boasting an editorial
team comprising almost all of the members of the editorial team
of Merdeka.

"We hereby inform the public that the leaders of Merdeka daily
are not involved nor responsible for the circulation of another
publication which has copied the characteristics and logo of
Merdeka," Herawati Diah of PT Merdeka Press said in a statement.

Herawati's husband, the late B.M. Diah, founded Merdeka (which
means independence or freedom) daily on Oct. 1, 1945, less than
two months after Indonesia's Aug. 17, 1945, proclamation of
independence.

Herawati apologized to the newspaper's readers for the
absence, vowing the daily would resume printing "in the briefest
of time".

On the "internal company matters", Herawati said the leaders
of the daily saw fit to prevent the paper's "independence and
commitment to serve the public" from being controlled by "certain
political, economic and business interests".

"The internal company matters will need administrative,
technical and legal settlements," she said.

The management of Rakyat Merdeka could not be reached for
comment. (aan)