Police sue cigarette company

[Knight of Cydonia]

JAKARTA(AP): Police are threatening to sue cigarette manufacturer PT Djarum for a nationwide advertising campaign - appearing on billboards, TV and in magazines - that pokes fun at officers dozing on thejob.

"The advert clearly violates both ethics and the law by discrediting the police," said police spokesman Maj. Gen. Sisno Adiwinoto. "The force is a state institution that deserves respect."

The ad is a visual and linguistic pun on the phrase "sleeping policemen," which in Indonesia and Britain is a term used for speed bumps. It features a road sign warning motorists of bumps, amended to read "Be careful, the police are snoozing."

Adiwinoto claimed that Djarum had agreed to withdraw the adverts, one of which is spread across a billboard meters (yards) from police headquarters, but said police were "still discussing whether we need to take legal action or just send them a strongwarning."

Djarum, which makes a popular brand of clove cigarettes, was not available for comment.

The Indonesian police force is regarded by critics as one of the country's most corrupt and lazy institutions, but is sensitive toward criticism.

this is why i hate the police, they are a bunch of corrupt and lazy bum, but they never accept a criticism. :angry:

[RASHskins]

LOLING that is hilarious.

[Political_Chucky]

Just for that, i'm not slowin down for those speedbumps.

[redcoughsyrup]

it'll get thrown out, it's atire against no particular person or department, which is protected even if it was aimed at someone, as police are public figures.

[apathy maybe]

You do have to remember, redcoughsyrup, that this is Indonesia. The laws are different.

As such, while in other countries this wouldn't even raise an eyebrow (and the police, as an organisation, would not be able to sue anyone regardless of the situation), it obviously causes a stir in Indonesia.

I hope someone shots the cops actually, and the judges, and the parliament. What the fuck, revolution!