Andi Syahputra, a media worker with the leading Indonesian underground newspaper “Suara Independen”, was arrested at 4:00 on the morning of 28 October 1996, not 27 October as was reported. **Corrects and updates IFEX alert dated 28 October 1996** On 28 October, Indonesian police raided the printing house where “Suara Independen” is printed and arrested […]
Andi Syahputra, a media worker with the leading Indonesian
underground newspaper “Suara Independen”, was arrested at 4:00 on
the morning of 28 October 1996, not 27 October as was reported.
**Corrects and updates IFEX alert dated 28 October 1996**
On 28 October, Indonesian police raided the printing house where
“Suara Independen” is printed and arrested two of its workers,
charging that they had distributed printed materials defaming
Indonesian President Suharto. Police arrested manager Syahputra,
31, and operator Nasrul, 60, and confiscated 5,000 copies of the
newly printed October issue of “Suara Independen”.
Satrio Arismunandar, the secretary general of the Alliance of
Independent Journalists (AJI), protested the arrest and asked the
police to immediately release both of them. “The arrest is a
serious abuse of the press freedom, freedom of expression as well
as the rights of the two people to make a living.”
Arismunandar said in a statement that police charged the two under
Articles 134 and 137 of Indonesia’s Criminal Code for distributing
printed materials defaming Suharto. Lawyers of the Jakarta-based
Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), one of the largest non-
governmental organizations in Indonesia, are now giving legal
counsel to both Syahputra and Nasrul.
Previous reports said that Syahputra was arrested after a minor
traffic problem in the Panglima Polim area in southern Jakarta
(see IFEX alert). But, according to AJI sources, he later told
lawyers and visiting friends that the printing house was raided.
Some other AJI members, including AJI President Santoso, are
expecting arrest as well. They reportedly have been in hiding
since the morning of 29 October.
Background Information
With a monthly circulation of about 12,000, “Suara Independen” is
a leading monthly magazine circulated in Indonesia. According to
ISAI, it usually reports uncensored news which is not found in the
mainstream media, giving its audience behind-the-scenes stories
about corruption, torture and the wealth of corrupt officials.
“Suara Independen” is published by the Society of Indonesian
Alternative Media (MIPPA), which is officially based in Melbourne,
Australia. But, it is widely known in Indonesia that the hard-
hitting magazine is published from Jakarta.
