Tabloid managing editor called in for defamation

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police on Monday summoned the managing editor of the new biweekly Warta Republik tabloid to answer allegations of defamation, following a lawsuit lodged by the country's former vice president Try Sutrisno.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. Edward Aritonang confirmed the summons and alleged that the tabloid had gone too far in abusing press freedom, just being enjoyed by the Indonesian media after more than three decades of repression under the Soeharto regime.

In one of its latest editions, the tabloid ran a story on the illicit and competitive affairs between Try Sutrisno and former minister of defense and security Edi Sudradjat over a widow, identified only as Nani, Aritonang said.

"They (the tabloid) can not have covered both sides as there is no confirmation at all from either Pak Try or Pak Edi Sudradjat," he said.

Although Monday's summons was the first, the tabloid's managing editor, Hoessein Madili, had already been named as a suspect by the police on account of the imbalanced report, Aritonang said.

The tabloid's general manager Abdul Manaf told reporters: "We have reliable sources for our story although we didn't crosscheck with those related parties."

Accompanied by lawyer Masiga Bugis, Hoessein was questioned at the city police headquarter for more than three hours.

Separately, Try Sutrisno's lawyer Amir Syamsuddin said that the tabloid planned to publish the corrected version of the story this week but it did not mean that he would drop the charges.

"We will proceed with our lawsuit," he said, adding that he deeply regretted the tabloid's failure to 'check and recheck' with the other related parties in their report.

Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus had reiterated and repeatedly reminded the press not to abuse its freedom and said criminal charges would be brought against any publications which could be found guilty of violating the regulations.

According to data from the ministry of information, at least 90 permits for new publications had been signed and issued up to August from the time of Soeharto's resignation in May.

However, since May as well, at least two other press publications had been summoned by police for their false coverage. (emf)