'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)