PP to sue weekly for naming it a debt collection agency
PP to sue weekly for naming it a debt collection agency
JAKARTA (JP): Amid the mysterious killing of a prominent debt
collector, a powerful youth organization is threatening to file a
lawsuit against Sinar weekly magazine for allegedly identifying
it as a debt collection agency.
"We have already formed a team of lawyers in order to sue the
magazine," said Yapto S. Suryosumarno, the chairman of Pemuda
Pancasila (PP).
Referring to Sinar's Aug. 15 cover story entitled "A Shock
Therapy for the Residue", Yapto said that Pemuda Pancasila, a
youth organization affiliated with the ruling Golkar group , is a
legal organization and is not involved in illegal activities,
including the debt collection service.
The magazine, said Yapto, resorted to "a trial-by-the-press
principle" in running the report by indirectly linking the
organization with debt collection servicing.
The magazine's lengthy, in-depth report on debt collection
servicing included an interview with Johny Sembiring, 62, a
prominent debt collector who was kidnapped and killed last week.
Sembiring said in the interview that the government will never
be able to abolish debt collection activities because the
business community needs them.
Several analysts said that Sembiring's death was closely
related to his profession as a debt collector.
Sinar's General Manager Sjam Alamsjah and Chief Editor Wikrama
Abidin were not available for comment.
Consultant
But Eddy Junaidi, the president of Business Information
Services, a consultant of Sinar told The Jakarta Post that the
weekly's management would probably solve the matter out of court.
"If both sides exhibit goodwill, then why not solve the
problem through consensus which is cheaper and faster than going
to court," Eddy said, adding that misinterpretation is an
unexpected part of journalistic works.
In a related development, Frans Hendra Winarta, a noted
corporate lawyer, underlined the need for the parties to settle
the matter in a court of law.
"I appreciate (the decision of) Pemuda Pancasila which means
they respect the law. It indirectly denied the accusations that
Pemuda Pancasila doesn't abide by the law because of their
alleged involvement in debt collection activities. It's a
positive attitude," Frans said, adding that Indonesia also needs
jurisprudence on such a case.
Frans said that the legal battle will also enable the
publisher of the magazine to defend its credibility in court over
the reports.
Sinar is published by PT Cahaya Rumpunpermata, a company owned
by Abdul Gafur, an executive of Golkar, as well as Sudwikatmono
and Didi Darwis, both of whom are businessmen. (09)