Moslems protest 'Republika' daily
JAKARTA (JP): More than one hundred Moslem youths demonstrated outside the Republika daily office yesterday protesting reports they claim discredited Islam.
Calling themselves the Communication Forum for Moslem Youths, the protesters waved placards and banners, some of which read: "Republika, write the truth," and "We depended on you, but you betrayed us".
The activists accused the daily, a brainchild of the influential Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), of supporting left-linked organizations "systematically and continuously."
Earlier this month, the daily began a series of in-depth stories on Budiman Sudjatmiko, the chairman of the Democratic People's Party (PRD) currently standing trial for allegedly undermining the government. Following criticism, it halted the project after several editions, promising to resume the series after the trials were over.
"The coverage on Budiman showed where the daily's sympathy lies," said one activist.
"This demonstration is only to remind our Moslem brothers here at the daily," Bambang Pribadi, one of the activists, said. "Besides, we're shareholders. So we have the right to correct it if it makes errors."
The protesters were received by Ade Armando and Nurul Agustina, the daily's national editors.
Established in 1993, the daily was funded by the Abdi Bangsa Foundation which sold 10 million shares to the public for Rp 4,000 (US$1.6) each.
The activists yesterday also protested the daily's coverage of a number of non-governmental organizations critical of the government, including Pijar and the PRD affiliate, Indonesian Students' Solidarity for Democracy (SMID).
An affiliate of Republika, the tabloid Adil was also criticized yesterday for an interview with Soebijakto Prawirasoebrata, former governor of the National Resilience Institute. The protesters said the interview was "pro-PRD".
The demonstrators also called on the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals to thoroughly check the background of the daily's staff, mainly its chief editor.
They also called on Moslems to stop subscribing to the newspaper. (03)