Gurita Cikeas Author to be Brought to Court

The controversy surrounding the publication of Membongkar Gurita Cikeas Di Balik Skandal Bank Century (Disclosing the Cikeas’ Network, Behind the Bank Century Scandal), written by George Yunus Aditjondro, continues.

After President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed his concern over the book, now it’s Antara News Agency’s turn to plan a lawsuit for the author. The Managing Director of Antara News Agency (LKBN Antara) Mukhlis Yusuf said that the agency will press charges because George Aditjondro wrote incorrect facts about Antara.

In his book, the doctor who graduated from Cornell University, U.S.A, said that there was a transfer of Antara public service obligation funds to the Yudhoyono campaign agency Bravo Media Center amounting to around Rp20.3 billion.

In the midst of the growing controversy, the 181-page book seems to have disappeared. Last week Tempo was promised the book in the Senen area, Jakarta.
But, “The book is sold out” said the seller.

Through his spokesperson, Julian Aldrin Pasha, the President affirmed that the disappearance of the book was not due to government interference. “We clarify; there is no restriction from the government. There no presidential instruction,” said Julian when contacted yesterday.

“The President just felt concerned that there was a lot of defamation in this democracy era.”Julian once again denied every accusation written by George Aditjondro.
But, so far the President or his campaign team has not yet decided to press charges.”No. The President has not yet made any instruction to press charges,” said Julian. - Download Gurita Cikeas

AMIRULLAH | EKO ARI WIBOWO