Tabloid protested for defamation

JAKARTA (JP): A member of the House of Representatives filed a report of slander by a newly established tabloid, Tekad, at Jakarta Police Headquarters on Saturday.

Yoseano Waas, who is also an actor, reported the tabloid for accusing him of being the mastermind of last month's bloody riot in Ambon, Maluku.

"The tabloid wrote that I orchestrated the riot even though it never asked me for confirmation," said Yoseano, who was accompanied by lawyers Chandra Tirta and Sammy Matulessy.

Yoseano, who hails from Maluku, expressed his objection of the tabloid report in its Jan. 25 to Jan. 31 edition, in which a source was quoted as saying that a donator who happened to be a House member identified as YW had sponsored the return of Ambonese hoodlums from Jakarta to their hometown.

He deplored the tabloid for quoting the source without confirming with him.

"It's slander. I don't know the source. I denied it," said Yoseano, who said he was in the United States when the riot happened, Antara reported. (jun)