TNI considers dropping libel suit

TNI considers dropping libel suit

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Military (TNI) is considering dropping
its plan to sue U.S.-based The Washington Post daily provided it
writes a letter apologizing to TNI for the use of unverified
intelligence reports by its reporters.

Speaking after a meeting with lawyers representing the Post on
Tuesday, TNI lawyer Trimoelja D. Soerjadi said that TNI was now
seeking a written apology from the Post should it object to
demands to publish a front-page apology in several newspapers in
the U.S. and Indonesia.

"TNI objects that the Post used intelligence reports without
carrying out further investigation. Nevertheless, should
the Post object to TNI's demands, we (TNI) simply seek a letter
expressing their apology," Trimoelja announced at a joint media
conference.

TNI had threatened to file a US$1 billion lawsuit against the
Post unless the daily ran a front-page apology in Indonesian and
U.S. newspapers over its report that TNI leadership was
implicated in killings at Timika, Papua, in August, at which two
Americans and one Indonesian were killed.

The story, published on Nov. 3, was written, according to the
Post, on information from a "highly reliable source -- a U.S.
official -- and an intercept held by Australian intelligence."

According to the story, military top brass, including TNI
Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, held a meeting to discuss the
attack in an attempt "to discredit the Free Papuan Movement
(OPM)."

"In Indonesia, the use of intelligence data in newspaper
reports is unusual but in the U.S, which respects press freedom,
it is common practice," lawyer representing the Post Todung Mulya
Lubis said at the same conference.

Todung and Trimoelja said both parties, "will seek dialog to
explore options for a peaceful solution" to the dispute. --JP