The journalist believes his dismissal was related to his commitment to advocacy and humanitarian work, including his public support for Palestine.
This statement was originally published on aji.or.id on 6 March 2025.
Journalist and former President of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia Sasmito Madrim filed a lawsuit against Voice of America (VOA) Indonesia against his February 19 termination of employment. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliates, AJI and the Media and Creative Industry Workers Union for Democracy (SINDIKASI), in condemning Sasmito’s dismissal and calling on media organisations to support the fundamental rights to press freedom in Indonesia.
On February 19, journalist Sasmito Madrim of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), filed a lawsuit against the Voice of America (VOA) Indonesia for his termination at the Industrial Relations Court of the Central Jakarta District Court.
The decision to take legal action came following the failure of VOA Indonesia to abide by recommendations from the Central Jakarta Manpower Office, the result of a series of dialogues necessary in the Indonesian labour dispute resolution process. During a protest on February 21, the journalist said that he believed that the dismissal was related to his commitment to advocacy and humanitarian work, including his public support for Palestine.
According to AJI Jakarta’s labour division and the Legal Aid Center for the Press (LBH Pers), VOA Indonesia have failed to abide by Indonesian labour standards, failing to provide severance pay. Other statutory rights, including religious holiday allowances, health insurance, and employment insurance, were not provided in the six years the journalist was employed there. Sasmito and other workers at VOA Indonesia have fought for the US-Congress funded media service and other international news outlets to fulfil obligations under Indonesian labour law.
While holding a demonstration with fellow AJI journalists outside the VOA Indonesia office in Central Jakarta on February 21, Sasmito said, “This is not just about economic rights, but there needs to be a change in policy so that foreign media companies operating in Indonesia are willing to fulfill the welfare and safety of journalists in Indonesia.”
The AJI said: “It is deeply concerning that a media organisation from the United States, a country that upholds liberal democracy, is engaging in termination practices that are far from democratic values. VOA Indonesia’s termination process was not only unilateral but also authoritarian. If Sasmito was deemed to have violated company regulations, he should have been given the opportunity to defend himself.”
SINDIKASI said: “SINDIKASI supports Sasmito in his case against VOA. We see his termination violates the freedom of speech as it relates to his expression supporting Palestine on his social media account. SINDIKASI urges VOA to fulfill Sasmito’s labor rights, including the severance and social security. We also demand VoA to improve the working conditions of its contributors in Indonesia and obey Indonesia’s labour law.”
The IFJ said: “IFJ stands in solidarity with Sasmito in his legal action against his arbitrary dismissal by VOA Indonesia. Media work for a foreign or domestic outlets should carry the same protections as guaranteed under Indonesian law. The IFJ urges the Indonesian government to implement the policy and legal reforms necessary to address this urgent labour rights concern.”
