'Tempo' steadfast on report despite denial by Rahardi

'Tempo' steadfast on report despite denial by Rahardi

JAKARTA (JP): Tempo news weekly magazine defended on Wednesday
its cover story on the alleged apprehension of Minister of
Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan's wife, Tumbu Astiani, at a
United States airport for alleged money laundering as a piece of
balanced reportage.

"But if Minister Rahardi has a different opinion on that
matter, it is entirely up to him whether to use his right of
rebuttal, or to take up the case in line with the due process of
the law," the magazine said in a statement.

Rahardi and his wife held a special press gathering at the
Pulau Dua Restaurant on Tuesday, where he categorically denied
the Tempo story, saying the reportage had damaged his and his
family's reputation.

The minister said he would not bring a lawsuit against the
magazine, but he said he expected its editors to be magnanimous
and issue an apology.

The four-page cover story revolved mainly around wild rumors
regarding Ibu Tumbu Rahardi's alleged arrest with firm denials
issued by Indonesian diplomats in the U.S. and Singapore. Tempo
claimed Rahardi's wife entered the U.S. in possession of
US$600,000, violating American regulations. The magazine also
provided a long interview with Rahardi himself, in which he
flatly denied the allegation. He said his wife was in Jakarta
inaugurating an exhibition on the alleged day in question -- June
17.

Also on Wednesday, Tempo expressed regret over what it claimed
was Rahardi's rude treatment of staffer, Ali Nur Yasin. After the
luncheon meeting, the reporter approached the minister in the
restaurant's parking lot seeking details of the highly
controversial lifting of the sugar import duty.

The magazine said its reporter, by seeking clarification on
the issue with the minister, who also heads the National
Logistics Agency, was acting in the public interest.

"It is entirely immaterial as to whether our reporter was
invited to the luncheon gathering or not. Ali accosted Rahardi as
the most authoritative person regarding trade policy, in a public
place, to ask for clarification about the sugar import policy."

The magazine said Rahardi's ill treatment of Ali, who
performed his job in an entirely professional manner, degraded
the integrity of the ministerial office.