**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 […]
**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 contempt” toward the Indonesian
government.
The defendants — AJI president Ahmad Taufik, AJI member Eko
Maryadi, and office helper Danang Kukuh Wardoyo — were arrested
on 16 March. Taufik and Wardoyo were released the same day, but
then rearrested on 17 March. Authorities subsequently charged
Taufik, Wardoyo, and Maryadi under Article 19 of the Indonesian
Press Law, which prohibits the publication of an unlicensed
newspaper or magazine, and Article 154 of the Indonesian Criminal
Code, which bars the expression of “feelings of hostility, hatred
or contempt toward the government” and is punishable by up to
seven years in prison. The defendants are being tried in the
Central Jakarta District Court. It is expected to last several
months.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to Indonesian authorities:
dropped
expression in the country
organization, and that its right to freely defend the
independence and rights of Indonesian journalists be guaranteed
Appeals To
His Excellency Ismail Saleh
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said, Kav. 4-5
Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia
Fax: +62 21 525 3095
His Excellency General Soeharto
Office of the President
Bina Graha, Jalan Veteran No. 17
Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia
Fax: +62 21 374 392
His Excellency Harmoko
Minister of Information
Jalan Medan Merdeka
Barat No. 9
Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia
Copy appeals to:
Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI)
RSTA Blok 39 Lt. II No. 4 Jl. K.H. Mas Mansyur 25-A
Jakarta 10240, Indonesia
Tel/Fax: +62 21 315 5918
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
