Washington Post, TNI to meet over dispute

Talks between U.S.-based daily The Washington Post and the Indonesian military (TNI) chief is being arranged in a bid to discuss some options for an out-of-court settlement to their dispute.

Todung Mulya Lubis, one of the lawyers representing the Post, told reporters on Tuesday that he had sent an official letter on Wednesday to the TNI chief to set the time and date of the meeting.

He said that attorney Trimoelja D. Soerjadi, who represents TNI, had agreed to the meeting.

TNI is planning to bring a US$1 billion lawsuit against the newspaper for suggesting that high-ranking military officers were involved in the ambush near gold and copper mine P.T. Freeport Indonesia in Timika, Papua, on Aug. 31 this year, which resulted in the deaths of one Indonesian and two Americans.

"It depends on the TNI chief, but we hope some options for settling the dispute can be discussed at the meeting. I am sure that The Washington Post is willing to publish a full version of TNI's side to the story. We will also discuss the space in the Post that will be made available for that," Todung said.

He added that the chief editor of the Post would also attend the meeting and join in the discussion with the TNI chief to find the ideal solution that would satisfy all parties.

"We hope the case will not be taken to court, but it is not The Washington Post who is threatening to sue," Todung said.(*)