Articles by Aliansi Jurnalis Independen/Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI)
CAPSULE REPORT: 2008 not a bright year for press freedom, says AJI
(AJI/IFEX) – The year 2008 was not a bright year for press freedom in Indonesia. Ten years after reform was introduced, press freedom in the country was again threatened by various new acts of legislation. During 2008, a series of new laws relating to the press was passed by the government, including Law No. 10 […]
Journalist receives death threat in Aceh
(AJI/IFEX) – On 27 December 2008, a northern Aceh journalist, Ahmad Hayat Fauzi, reported that he had received a death threat from an anonymous caller in association with an article he wrote in the “Aceh Independent” newspaper about the inappropriate disbursement of cattle and paddy seeds by the local government in Langkahan. Fauzi suspected that […]
Filmmaker refused permission to shoot in Central Java
(AJI/IFEX) – Local officials of Karanganyar District in Surakarta, a city in Java, Indonesia, refused to allow a film director to shoot a movie and even issued threats against the crew over accusations that the movie’s script is filled with communist ideas. The National Police Headquarters, through a letter dated August 28, 2008, and signed […]
Free expression advocate could face prison for libel and defamation
(AJI/IFEX) – A freedom of expression advocate was charged with libel and defamation by the South Sulawesi Regional Police Office in Indonesia. The chief of the South Sulawesi Regional Police Office, Police Inspector General Sisno Adiwinoto, accused Upi Asmaradana, the coordinator of the Coalition of Journalists against Criminalisation of the Press, of libel and defamation. […]
Journalist charged with defamation; AJI concerned new law may silence press by way of jail terms and heavy fines
(AJI/IFEX) – AJI is deeply concerned that a recent law on the electronic media might pose a threat to press freedom in Indonesia. The concern came after the recent filing of defamation charges against journalist Narliswandi Piliang by legislator Alvin Lie over Narliswandi’s article entitled, “Behind Adaro Co.’s Lobbying in Parliament”, which was published in […]
Magazine and its editor fined, ordered to publish apology for defaming agribusiness giant
(AJI/IFEX) – AJI, a member of the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), has condemned a Central Jakarta District Court’s decision finding “Tempo” magazine guilty of defaming agribusiness giant Asian Agri. The court, presided by judge Panusunan Harahap, ordered the weekly magazine and its editor-in-chief Thoriq Hadad, to pay Rp 50 million (approx. US$5,350) in damages […]
Journalists present Constitutional Court with petition to decriminalise defamation offences
(AJI/IFEX) – On 15 August 2008, Indonesia’s Constitutional Court will decide on a petition led by journalists Risang Bima Wijaya and Bersihar Lubis to abolish Penal Code provisions that criminalise insult and defamation. Articles 310 (1), (2) and 311 (1) allow for prison terms of nine months, 16 months and four years, respectively, for those […]
AJI denounces South Sulawesi police chief’s harassment and intimidation of the local press
(AJI/IFEX) – The following is a 24 June 2008 AJI press release: AJI responds to a statement by the South Sulawesi police chief During the 2nd South Sulawesi Regional Press Jamboree, held in Makassar on 30 May 2008, South Sulawesi Police Chief Insp. Gen. Sisno Adiwinoto said that people did not need to exercise their […]