TNI chief sues The Washington Post over Freeport shooting

Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said his side would sue The Washington Post for US$1 billion over its report that TNI had masterminded the attack in copper and gold mining giant PT. Freeport Indonesia compound in Timika, Papua in which three schoolteachers - two of them Americans - were killed several months ago.

"I lodged a complaint because The Washington Post stated that I planned the Timika case," said Endriartono, as quoted by Antara here on Friday, adding that he would study carefully how best to sue the U.S. newspaper.

Washington Post representatives said that they had received information from the U.S. government, but the latter, via an ambassador, stated that it had not given any information to the paper relating to the Timika case.

"Because I did not do any such thing, I believe the news was untrue," the general said. The commander asserted that he was very serious about his plan because it had libeled TNI.

Endriartono added it did not matter if a consequence of the lawsuit was that military relations between Indonesia and the U.S. were harmed. According to him, national dignity was more important than military relations. "If the action succeeded, the damages awarded would be paid to the victims of the incident," he said. (*)