Lawyer says meat at the heart of Oz media reports on SBY

The lawyer for several workers filing a class action lawsuit against two Australian newspapers says the papers’ reports about President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono were retaliating against Indonesia's recent plans to reduce meat imports from Australia.

“Indonesia recently said it would reduce beef imports because we are building up the local beef supply,” Habiburokhman, said in Jakarta on Tuesday, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Australian newspapers The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald on Friday ran stories citing allegations of corrupt practices by Yudhoyono. The reports are allegedly based on documents obtained from WikiLeaks that were provided exclusively to the newspapers.

“It is apparent that this is unfair reporting,” Habiburokhman said.

He added that as a nation Indonesia's reputation had been tainted by the reports on President Yudhoyono.