President to sue daily for defamation

President to sue daily for defamation

JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri plans to sue Rakyat
Merdeka daily for comparing her to Soemanto, a man who confessed
to eating parts of dead human bodies.

"The President herself said she could not sleep after reading
the newspaper's headline and decided to file a lawsuit against
the paper," journalist Susanto Pudjomartono told The Jakarta Post
on Friday.

Susanto was referring to a headline that appeared in Rakyat
Merdeka in January, which suggested that Megawati was crueler
that Soemanto for raising electricity and telephone rates, and
fuel prices.

Megawati announced the planned lawsuit during a luncheon with
members of the Editor's Club, which was also attended by Kompas
publisher Jakob Oetama, Kompas chief editor Suryopratomo, Metro
TV senior editor Andy Noya and TV7 chief editor August
Parengkuan.

Rakyat Merdeka daily is known for its daring headlines and is
currently facing another lawsuit by House of Representatives
Speaker Akbar Tandjung.--JP