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Aburizal to sue ‘Tempo’ for defamation
Abdul Khalik , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 11/19/2008 7:13 AM | Headlines
Rather than make use of the press law to settle a dispute with Tempo magazine, chief welfare minister Aburizal Bakrie has chosen to file criminal charges against the magazine for allegedly defaming him.
Aburizal, an influential politician and one of the country’s wealthiest people, accused the investigative magazine of “character assassination” by defaming him in a report on the plight of the Bakrie Group’s plummeting shares, published in its Nov. 17-23 edition.
The report described the coordinating minister for the people’s welfare as one of the biggest sponsors of the 2004 presidential campaign of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Jusuf Kalla.
Another offending item was the magazine’s cover, which had the number 666 prominently marked out on the minister’s portrait. The number is considered a negative symbol among certain groups.
“Pak Aburizal insisted on filing a lawsuit against Tempo. Hopefully the report will be filed on Monday next week with the Jakarta Police,” Aburizal’s spokesman Lalu Mara Satriawangsa told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
The report, which quoted unnamed sources, claimed Aburizal’s huge contributions to the Yudhoyono-Kalla campaign earned him the post of coordinating minister for the economy.
Aburizal was retained in the Cabinet as coordinating minister for the people’s welfare, despite Yudhoyono’s dismissal of several other ministers for their poor performances, it added.
“Probably because of this (funding), Aburizal was only moved from the post of coordinating minister for the economy to that of coordinating minister for the people’s welfare,” the report, “Who cares about Bakrie”, read.
Mara said the report was very unbalanced and breached the press law by spreading “slanderous news” about Aburizal.
He said the minister refused to use options in the press law to settle the case — including having a rebuttal published in Tempo or reporting the case to the Press Council — because the magazine had clashed with Bakrie Group many times in the past.
“It is unbalanced because so many lines are dedicated to making accusations against Pak Aburizal, and only one paragraph for him. Tempo could have requested an interview. It is necessary to report it to police to teach them a lesson,” Mara said.
Tempo chief editor Toriq Hadad dismissed Aburizal’s claims, saying his magazine had followed all journalistic standards in publishing the report.
“What we reported were the facts. We never meant to expose the negative aspects of anyone, including Pak Aburizal. This is just a regular disagreement between the media and a newsmaker. So we should use the press law and the Press Council to settle the case,” he told the Post.
Toriq said a Tempo reporter had submitted a request for an interview with Aburizal, but had received no reply in time for the press deadline.
University of Indonesia legal expert Rudy Satrio said any dispute over press reports should be solved using the press law rather than the Criminal Code.
“(Aburizal) can file a report with the police if he has a legal basis for that,” he said. “But any good police officer will use the press law as the basis for handling this case.”
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Not Surprised (not verified) — Wed, 11/26/2008 - 12:27am
Suing a magazine won't work. He may get more money, but Bakrie's little PIG's tail will just get curlier in the eyes of the public.
I haven't seen the Tempo article yet, but, I completely agree with the 666: Mark of the Beast flair. In general, it's a number associated to Satanism. Satanism is basically a narcissistic philosophy. Where's the defamation?
Mr Bakrie, you should sue yourself. You're the only person who makes 'you' look bad.
Suing a magazine for printing facts? Sounds like Pinocchio suing a mirror for exposing his long nose each time he lied.
My apologies to Pinocchio for comparing him to that selfish demon.
Have a nice week at the stock exchange, boss.
Callum (not verified) — Tue, 11/25/2008 - 11:12am
To sue for defamation, one must already have a good reputation to start with.
Given how Mr. Bakrie has used his position within Government to protect his companies from paying compensation to the victims of its criminally negligent drilling activity, one would say that he really does not have a good reputation to start with.
No doubt he will win because the Indonesia Court System is still an auction, always delivering for the highest bidder.
Arya Borneo (not verified) — Mon, 11/24/2008 - 2:09am
There is a saying that "What goes around comes around" that is basically what is happening with ICAL. ICAL should have thought
about that before he takes his position in SBY-KALLA cabinet.
Sledet (not verified) — Sun, 11/23/2008 - 11:55am
Aburizal Bakrie suing Tempo for "defamation" should not surprise anybody -- we already knew his character, didn't we? Poor Ical, you are doing it to yourself, can't blame Tempo for that...
Jon (not verified) — Wed, 11/19/2008 - 8:42pm
Well bakrie is suing tempo the poor people that minded there own bisinesse until they lost everything they had to his companies mistake in Sidoarjo should take him to court including the major shareholders like vise president Jusuf Kallah. How disgusting to hear the governement speak about bailing out the poor Bakries well over 15,000 peopel have received nothing to help them. This country is a joke run by a bunch of criminals.
Mark Austin (not verified) — Wed, 11/19/2008 - 1:28pm
Yippee! Yet another public case of the much abused "criminal libel" law in Indonesia to let Indonesian citizens know just how lucky they are and foreigners know just how well balanced the judicial system is. Yippee! The police make some more illicit cake with a "donation" from Bakrie (Oh, sorry, sue me / eat my shorts) and maybe something from Tempo ("You need a good friend") to lessen the inevitable conclusion.
Can not let the "good" [sic] name of Bakrie be tarnished like that; after all, the Government needs to be seen to bailing out (yet again) a company with a good, honest, law abiding leader (in absentia of course while he is part of the very government baling out his own company). And Kalla and SBY both need Bakrie to be "squeaky clean" officially so they can accept huge election campaign donations from him.
Naughty Tempo; go straight to jail.
David K. (not verified) — Wed, 11/19/2008 - 12:30pm
It's interesting that when negative press is provided concerning certain individuals the inevitable retaliation seems so childish.
The most sensible method of rebuttal would be to provide clear evidence from Mr. Bakrie refuting the claims provided by Tempo, instead of going to the action of Suing Tempo for defamation. It shall be interesting to see what comes from pressing charges.
It is understandable that the unnamed sources would fear being brought forward as having Mr. Bakrie's ire directed towards you would be decidedly uncomfortable.
Hopefully Tempo's freedom of press will not be stifled by the courts.
David, Jakarta (not verified) — Wed, 11/19/2008 - 12:14pm
There is a long and inglorious history in neighboring Singapore of government ministers and even departments suing the press for punitive damages. Clearly Pak Aburizal would like to see the Indonesian media obediently following the government line just like they do in Singapore.
delvi (not verified) — Wed, 11/19/2008 - 12:02pm
A (high profile) and painfully rich politician suing a magazine is dangerous. But suing the press with criminal code while press law is available is, I have to say, hilariously ridiculous.
Or should he encourage the law makers in Senayan to rule out new bill to suit his case and cause since he is that powerful?
Well, I think Tempo will make it through the rain. It has stood the test of time. It has even got back from death afflicted by the Suharto regime.
Kal-el — Wed, 11/19/2008 - 9:12am
come on, be gentle Mr. Bakrie, but we already know what kind of person you are ;)