Thugs threaten 'Matra' magazine

JAKARTA: Police officers were seen on Saturday guarding the office of Matra monthly magazine on Jl. Fatmawati, South Jakarta, after a group of thugs threatened to burn it down.

Some 20 people claiming to be members of the Betawi Communications Forum and community organizations in Serang and Cibitung, Bekasi, had come to the office on Thursday to protest an article in the magazine's August edition about thugs in Tanah Abang textile market, Central Jakarta.

They particularly protested the article's insinuation that notorious Tanah Abang gang leader, Hercules, was not as menacing as his name would suggest, as he squinted and his arm had been amputated.

When asked by the magazine to settle the case according to the press law through the right of response, Hercules said the damage to his reputation could not be solved through such a mechanism.

While threatening to burn down the office, the group then demanded the magazine pay Rp 2 billion (US$217,391) in compensation. They also said they would return on Monday. -- Antara