'Republika' told to use its right to reply
'Republika' told to use its right to reply
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) called on Saturday
for the Republika daily to exercise its right to reply instead of
resorting to legal action in response to a report run by The
Jakarta Post which it says has damaged its image.
In a statement released by AJI chairman Edy Suprapto, the
alliance said Press Law No. 40/1999 recommended that the courts
be the last resort for settling dispute over reports carried in
the media.
"The taking of legal action by Republika is a legitimate
option, but AJI believes that disputes such as this one should be
settled through the mechanisms provided by the Press Law," Edy
said.
Besides, Republika could file a complaint with the Press
Council or other press organizations.
Edy said that if these measures were taken, it would help both
parties to make internal improvements and maintain press freedom.
AJI was commenting on a front page story in the Nov. 13
edition of the Post, which said that people close to the ruling
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle had injected fresh
funding into Republika, a report which was denied by the latter.
Eddy Suprapto urged the English-language daily to apologize
for the unsubstantiated report.
He said AJI was concerned with the dispute between the
newspapers, which had been caused by inaccurate reporting and the
failure to uphold the cover-both-sides principle, a principle
that was essential to good journalism.
"Media outlets are free to find and disseminate information
and ideas but these should be accurate, correct and objective,"
Eddy said.
Republika's publisher PT Abdi Bangsa has denied any links to
members of President Megawati Soekarnoputri's party.
"The report by the daily (the Post) has greatly prejudiced us
-- not only our image but also our independence," PT Abdi Bangsa
president Erick Tohir told a media conference on Thursday.
In its clarification, the Post admitted the report was
unsubstantiated, inaccurate and not supported by hard facts.
"Although it was not intentional on the part of the Post, we
regret whatever negative consequences this news report has
caused," the daily's chief editor, Raymond Toruan, said.