Moslems protest 'Republika' daily

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)