Media worker arrested
In the early morning of 27 October 1996, Indonesian police arrested Andi Syahputra, a media worker of a leading Indonesian underground newspaper, charging him with distributing materials that defame President Suharto. Family sources said Syahputra, 31, was involved in a minor traffic irregularity when police stopped and tried to ticket him in the Panglima Polim […]
Indonesian journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafrudin dies after attack
An Indonesian journalist with the Yogyakarta-based daily “Bernas” died on 16 August 1996 of injuries sustained in an attack at his home three days earlier. The attack is believed to be related to articles he had written. Fuad Muhammad Syafrudin, 33, died after three days in intensive care at a Catholic hospital in the ancient […]
Lecturer arrested for circulating information on riots via e-mail
Prihadi Beny Waluyo, a lecturer at Duta Wacana Christian University, has been arrested at his home by soldiers of the district military command. He was reportedly accused of distributing e-mail messages and of sending messages relating to the 27 July 1996 riots (see IFEX alerts) to a destination in Holland. His arrest came after an […]
Two journalists detained while covering rallies in Surabaya; clarification to attack on APTV reporter
On 28 July 1996, Subechi of the “Surabaya Post” daily and Adi Sutarwijono of the daily “Surya” were detained by police while covering a rally in Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia, around 800 kilometers east of Jakarta. Police reportedly thought they were protesters. They were tortured at the Surabaya military command. When they […]
Several journalists harassed and assaulted while attempting to cover government crackdown on political opposition
On 27 July 1996, when the Indonesian military seized the offices of the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), several journalists were barred from covering the incident, including Andreas Harsono, General Secretary for IFEX member the Institute for the Studies on Free Flow of Information (ISAI), whose camera was confiscated. They were both beaten, as were […]
Supreme Court upholds government decision to ban “Tempo”
**Updates IFEX alerts dated 4 May, 27 and 21 June 1994** Indonesian press freedom activists vowed to continue their struggle despite a Supreme Court ruling on 13 June 1996 that affirmed Information Minister Harmoko’s decision to ban “Tempo” magazine. Chief Justice Soejono, who headed the three-judge panel, said that the 1982 Indonesian Press Law should […]
Indonesian army pressures media in its efforts to unseat an opposition leader
Source: Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), Jakarta The Indonesian government has put pressure on the local media to report positively on government-backed efforts to unseat Megawati Sukarnoputri, the chairwoman of the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). Media sources said that army officers on 2 June 1996 invited most of Indonesia’s chief editors to attend two […]
Indonesian government gives stern warning to newspaper
The Indonesian government has issued a stern warning to the daily newspaper “Pelita” over reports that most high school girls in Tana Toraja, in the southern part of Sulawesi Island, have lost their virginity. Director General of Press and Graphics Subrata wrote on 22 May 1996 that the articles which appeared in the 27 and […]
Indonesian government bans book published by freedom of expression institute
The Indonesian government has banned the book, “Bayang Bayang PKI” (“In the Shadows of the PKI”), which is published by the Institute for Studies on the Free Flow of Information (ISAI). The book is about the violent political turbulence that occurred in Indonesia in 1965-66 which led to the assumption of power by current President […]
Supreme Court upholds sentences of two journalists and media worker
**Updates IFEX alerts dated 18 March, 26 January 1996, 29 November, 1 September 1995 and others** During the last week of March 1996, the Indonesian Supreme Court upheld the three-year sentences of Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) members Ahmad Taufik and Eko Maryadi, as well as the 20-month sentence of AJI office assistant Danang Wardoyo. […]
AJI worker sentenced to 20 months in prison
**Updates IFEX CH alert of 16 June. For background on arrests, see IFEX alerts dated 15 June and 28 March 1995** On 24 August 1995, the Central Jakarta District Court sentenced Danang Kukuh Wardoyo, an office assistant for the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), to 20 months in prison for helping distribute the AJI magazine, […]
Trial begins for three AJI journalists; CPJ & HRW to hold press conference
**For recent background on arrests, see IFEX alerts dated 15 June and 28 March 1995; for additional background, see 1994 and 1995 IFEX alerts** Three staff members of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) went on trial in Jakarta, Indonesia on 16 June 1995 for publishing an unlicensed magazine and publicly expressing “hostility, hatred, and […]
AJI journalists and two others arrested in new wave of attacks
Early on the evening of 16 March 1995, Ahmad Taufik and Liston P. Siregar, members of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), were arrested and detained by police in Jakarta. The journalists had gathered, along with several political figures, at AJI headquarters to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Until its banning in June 1994, both […]