| Taken Question Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC March 13, 2008 Question Taken at the March 13, 2008 Daily Press Briefing Indonesia: Time Magazine Defamation Suit (Taken Question)Question: What is the Department’s reaction to the Indonesian Supreme Court verdict against Time Magazine ruling that the magazine is guilty of defamation and must pay $106 million damages? Can Time Magazine appeal the Court’s decision?
Answer: Last September, the Indonesian Supreme Court awarded one trillion rupiah (more than $108 million) to former President Soeharto for defamation, stemming from a May 1999 cover story about the Soeharto family’s accumulation of wealth. Last month, Time filed for Supreme Court judicial review of the judgment, which is akin to an appeal. It is unclear how long the Court will now take to render a verdict. We strongly support a fair and impartial review of the facts of the case. We believe that it is the proper role of a free and independent media to investigate allegations of corruption and report findings supported by facts. We commend and support the Indonesian government’s own efforts to attack corruption and thus improve public confidence in government. 2008/189 |
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