Padang journalists file complaint

Padang journalists file complaint

PADANG, West Sumatra: Two journalists from Padang, West Sumatra, filed a complaint with the city police against Jakarta's media monitoring monthly,Pantau, on Thursday, for alleged defamation in its latest report.

Sri Rahayu Ningsih and Bonar Harahap, respectively correspondents of Jakarta's Sinar Harapan and Media Indonesia, claimed to have been defamed in a report in the June 2002 edition of the magazine, which stated that 25 political correspondents at the provincial legislature "receive a monthly allocation of Rp 200,000."

They said that according to Pantau, the 25 members of the West Sumatra journalists forum, including both of them, were targeted for a payment of Rp 62.4 million for 2002, whereas they received nothing.

"The magazine has libeled us so we have reported it to the police," said Sri Rahayu, who also directed the complaint against Pantau journalist John Nedy Setiawan.

Provincial council speaker Syahrial made a note stating that the two journalists had not received the allowance, while the city police said they would soon follow up the report by summoning relevant parties. --Antara