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Subject: Timor Express Editor Questioned Over Libel [+New Indon
Magazine]
The Jakarta Post Tuesday, January 13, 2004
Chief editor questioned over libel complaint
Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara
The chief editor of the Timor Express (Timex) daily complied with a
police summons on Monday for questioning over libel accusations made by
the Wirasakti Military commander.
Editor Yusak Riwu Rohi, who was accompanied by a team of nine lawyers
led by Lorens Mega Man, arrived at the Kupang Police office at 9 a.m. The
group was received by local police chief of detectives First Insp.
Robertus Hery.
However, Robertus denied that the summons was to question Yusak over a
report carried by his newspaper, which the local military considered
defamatory.
"The presence of Yusak Riwo Rohi was aimed only for coordination
and was not to question him as a witness," Robertus said.
Robertus admitted the police were confused about whether to use Press
Law No. 40/1999 or the Criminal Code in investigating the libel case.
"A police team is still studying it," he said.
The case surfaced after Wirasakti military commander Col. Moeswarno
Moesanif accused Timex of defaming his office in a report that criticized
the military for being involved in developing resettlements for former
East Timorese refugees.
The report, published last Friday, quoted Karel Yani Mbuik, deputy
chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) for the
East Nusa Tenggara chapter.
It accused Moesanif's office of using around Rp 5 billion (US$588,235)
of Rp 53 billion in assistance from Japan to build houses for soldiers who
were among the former East Timorese refugees.
The command oversees security in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.
The Army had to respond to the accusations because it had no right to
be involved in such a project, Mbuik was quoted in the article as saying.
Mbuik also alleged irregularities in the project and urged the
Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) to investigate the case.
Responding to the report, Moesanif accused the newspaper and Mbuik of
tarnishing his and the military's image. Last Friday, the commander took
the libel case to the Kupang Police.
Yusak later criticized Moesanif's legal move, saying he should have his
right to reply as regulated by Press Law No. 40/1999 to clarify the
report.
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