Indonesia

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is deeply troubled by the recent deportation of American journalist Amy Goodman, who was stopped at Bali’s Ngurah Rai international airport while en route to East Timor to cover the territory’s 30 August 1999 vote on independence. Goodman’s expulsion directly contradicts pledges made by President Habibie’s administration to lift restrictions on foreign […]

(AJI/IFEX) – The following is an AJI press release: **New cases and updates to IFEX alerts of 13 August, 10 August and 9 August 1999** CEASE TERRORISING JOURNALISTS IN ACEH AND EAST TIMOR Violence and terror against journalists abounds in Aceh and East Timor. Two journalists working for the American magazine Time in East Timor […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is deeply concerned over the recent firebomb attack against Sjamsul Kahar, chief editor of the Aceh-based, Indonesian-language daily newspaper “Serambi Indonesia” and chairman of the Aceh chapter of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI). On 10 August 1999, at around 2:00 a.m. (local time), unidentified assailants threw two Molotov cocktails at Kahar’s home […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is gravely concerned over last week’s brutal murder of Supriadi, a reporter based in Aceh Province who was working for the Indonesian-language daily “Medan Pos”, a newspaper published in neighboring North Sumatra. **Updates IFEX alert of 10 August 1999** On 3 August 1999, Supriadi was abducted from his home near the provincial […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a 9 August 1999 letter to Indonesian Interior Minister General Syarwan Hamid, RSF said it was concerned about the murder of Supriadi, a journalist with the “Medan Pos” newspaper (based in North Sumatra province), in Aceh last week. RSF wrote that “as the murder of a journalist is the strongest violation of […]

(AJI/IFEX) – AJI is noting that, apparently, the press freedom currently flourishing in Indonesia is still being obstructed by the mentality of government officials who seek to control and regulate the appearance of journalists. After the banning of three journalists from reporting in the grounds of the Attorney General’s Office – on grounds that they […]

(AJI/IFEX) – AJI has called attention to the trial of former Bantul regent, Sri Roso Sudarmo, on charges of bribery amounting to one billion rupiah (approximately US$149,107). AJI regrets that the trial, held on Tuesday, 22 June 1999, in the Semarang Supreme Military Court, only dealt with the charge of bribery. The trial did not […]

(AJI/IFEX) – AJI is strongly criticising the harsh measures that the attorney general has taken against three journalists: Bambang Wahyu of the newspaper “Kompas”, Driantama of the television station RCTI, and Roy Pakpahan of “Suara Bangsa”. Specifically, these three journalists have been banned from freely pursuing press activities in the office of the attorney general, […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is the full text of CPJ’s Indonesia report: NO TURNING BACK: Indonesia’s Press Strives to Maintain Its Hard-Won Freedom Introduction On the eve of Indonesia’s first free elections in more than a generation, government officials eagerly point to the country’s open and virtually unfettered press as one of the major accomplishments […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: Indonesia’s Press Strives to Maintain Its Hard-Won Freedom; Upcoming Election Tests Government’s Commitment to Media Rights New York, N.Y., June 2, 1999 – The flowering of press freedom in Indonesia in the year since President Suharto was forced from office is one of the few tangible […]

(AJI/IFEX) – The following is a 12 April 1999 AJI press release: Statement in Protest of the beating of a “Surya” Journalist by the East Java Governor The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) strongly protests the violent acts of the Governor of East Java, Imam Utomo, who struck Yudith Nainggolan, a journalist from the “Surya” […]

(AJI/IFEX) – Violence has again been used against journalists. On March 11 1999, journalists were hurt in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, and Sawahlunto Sijunjung, West Sumatra. In Pontianak, three unknown men beat Lamhot Sihotang, a journalist for “Forum” magazine. Lamhot was stabbed three times, and required treatment at a nearby hospital. There are strong indications that […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – IFJ is expressing shock at the violence against journalists covering the recent demonstrations in Jakarta. According to IFJ’s information, Dadang Rhs of “DeTAK”, Cosmas Gramiarto of “Indosiar”, and Yasmin Muntasa of “Anteve” were all attacked by security personnel whilst covering the clashes between students and the military at the Atma Jaya Catholic University […]

(CCPJ/IFEX) – CCPJ reports that Indonesian authorities have blacklisted and deported John Stackhouse, a correspondent with the Canadian national daily “The Globe and Mail”. On 10 November 1998, Stackhouse, the newspaper’s New Delhi correspondent, was detained by immigration officials at Jakarta’s international airport when he arrived on a flight from Kuala Lumpur. He was told […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is expressing its deep alarm over the beatings suffered by four journalists, who were attacked by security forces while covering street clashes between police and student demonstrators outside the parliament building in Jakarta on 11 November 1998. According to several sources, Saptono, a photographer with the official Antara News Agency, was attacked […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting the threats received by a journalist with the tabloid “DeTak”. According to RSF’s information, on 30 October 1998, Widadi, a reporter with “DeTak”, received a death threat from the regional military commander V/Brawijaya, Major-General Djoko Subroto. According to the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) based in Jakarta, Widadi sought to […]