'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.