Military Chief Files Complaint to Press Council over Report

Indonesian Military commander General Gatot Numantyo

Jakarta, 28 Rajab 1438/25 April 2017 (MINA) – House Commission III member Ahmad Sahroni praised the move by Indonesian military (TNI) commander General Gatot Nurmantyo to order his men to settle the case of treason in online media report by Tirto.id with the Press Council.

“The TNI chief has taken a good step as I believe he would not like to be trapped into a cycle that could lead to destruction. We appreciate the commanders decision,”Antara News quoted Sahroni as stating here on Monday.

He said he considered the effort to be the TNI’s wise decision with regard to maintaining public order and security as well as national unity.

As has been reported, the TNI headquarters has planned to report Tirto.id to the police for having publicized the result of investigation by foreign journalist Allan Nairn alleging that Nurmantyo was involved in a plot to overthrow President Joko Widodo.

The online publication on April 19 was translated from the English version published earlier by The Intercept online media, which has so far been known for its publication of US government documents leaked by Edward Snowden, a former US National Security Agency.

TNI spokesman Major General Wuryanto noted that the TNI headquarters would report Tirto.id to the police upon the order of Nurmantyo, who did not want the case to become a polemic.

He added that TNI plans to file the complaint to the Press Council on April 25. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)