Indonesian President Reacts To ‘Defamation’ in Social Media

Recently the Government of Indonesia has endured much criticism on social media platforms like Twitter, blogs, and even in text messages. During the past week the political world in Indonesia was turned upside-down by the emergence of a specific SMS text containing allegations of corruption against the nation’s government.

The message originated from a Singapore-based number from someone claiming to be Nazaruddin, an Indonesian political figure currently involved in a corruption case who has fled to Singapore. The text message was sent to Indra Piliang, a political opponent of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

When the text message eventually spread among the public, it clearly upset the president. He held a press conference to explain the contents of the SMS which he says are entirely slanderous.

The translated contents of the SMS message are below, along with a picture of the original:

I swear before God, I am M Nazaruddin, and I have been set up, sacrificed, and slandered. From Singapore I will pay this back. I will reveal the homosexual sex scandal between (President) SBY and Daniel Sparingga, and the Mega (former Indonesian’s President) Century Banks corruption case, and the Andi Malaranggeng (Presidential spokesman) corruption case in Wisma Atlit, and the data manipulation of 18 million voices in the general election”

President Yudhoyono asserted in his speech:

Defamation thrown by someone with a dark heart is really outrageous. It attacks, personally insults, and harasses me. They’re irresponsible, its not a knightly act, its cowardly, because they do not dare to show themselves, and they are not accountable for the statement”

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