'Blow to democracy'<\/p>\n
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
International and domestic observers lambasted on Thursday the
\nguilty verdict against Tempo magazine's chief editor Bambang
\nHarymurti and called it a setback for the country's press freedom
\nand democracy.<\/p>\n
The chief editor of leading daily Kompas, Suryopratomo, said
\nhe feared the defamation verdict and one-year sentence would set
\nbad precedent for criminalization of the press.<\/p>\n
\"We worry that in the future all mistakes committed by the
\nmedia will be perceived as errors by design that are driven by
\nhatred or ill will,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Bambang was found guilty of defaming businessman Tomy Winata
\nin an article that appeared in the March 3-9, 2003 edition of the
\nmagazine. The article questioned whether there was a link between
\nTomy and the fire that razed the Tanah Abang textile market in
\nCentral Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Fellow defendants, Tempo journalists Ahmad Taufik and Iskandar
\nAli Thamrin, were acquitted on the grounds that they were not
\nresponsible for the publication of the \"defamatory\" article.<\/p>\n
Press Council senior member Sabam Leo Batubara said the court
\nruling proved there was unfairness and inconsistency in the
\ninterpretation of the country's law.<\/p>\n
\"Just a couple of days ago, under the same law, the Jakarta
\nHigh Court overturned the district court's verdict against Tempo
\nfor an unsubstantiated report and defamation. Today, the court
\nhere did something completely different. Where is the fairness
\nthen?\" wondered Sabam.<\/p>\n
He was referring to a civil lawsuit filed by Tomy on the same
\nmatter.<\/p>\n
The international community, which had closely followed the
\ntrial of Bambang and his reporters, likened the verdict to a
\nreturn to dictatorship.<\/p>\n
The president of International Federation of Journalists
\n(IFJ), Christopher Warren, said the verdict continued \"a deeply
\ndisturbing trend mirroring the darkest days of the Soeharto
\nregime for media freedom in Indonesia.\"<\/p>\n
\"This is a sad day for press freedom in Indonesia. No
\njournalist should ever be jailed for defamation,\" Warren said.<\/p>\n
IFJ legal expert James Nolan said the verdict had the
\npotential for a chilling effect on press freedom by hampering
\njournalism on a day-to-day basis.<\/p>\n
United States Embassy press attache M. Max Kwak told The
\nJakarta Post he was delighted by the acquittal of Taufik and
\nIskandar, but was \"saddened\" by the conviction of Bambang.<\/p>\n
\"While it is the responsibility of the Indonesian court to
\nrule on the case before them in accordance with the Indonesian
\nlaws, we have concern about the legal process that leads to the
\nimprisonment of professional journalists and creates
\ncircumstances that could damage Indonesia's democracy,\" said
\nKwak.<\/p>\n
Separately, the European Union said in its statement it would
\ncontinue monitoring carefully the trials during the appeal
\nprocess.<\/p>\n
\"The EU regards press freedom and the freedom of information
\nas crucial democratic values,\" it said.<\/p>\n
Suryopratomo, however, said the verdict should teach the
\nnational media a lesson to improve its professionalism.<\/p>\n
Kompas, he said, now required all its reporters to verify all
\nfacts and stick to accepted standards.<\/p>\n
\"We are no longer just required to cover both sides, but also
\nto verify facts, which is not easy as most of our journalists are
\nnot used to it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people who were divided into supporters of Tempo
\nand Tomy thronged the street in front of the court on Jl. Gadjah
\nMada during the hearing, singing songs and carrying signs, mostly
\ncheering for their side.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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