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