JP\/5\/Kendari<\/p>\n
24 x 2 lines:<\/p>\n
AJI rebukes summoning of Kendari
\njournalists over defamation case<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) on Tuesday
\nexpressed its full support for journalists in Kendari, North
\nSulawesi, who have refused to comply with a police summons to
\ntestify in a defamation case involving the police and noted
\nbusinessman Tomy Winata.<\/p>\n
\"The summons are ridiculous because a journalists' testimony
\nis already provided in his report, the police only need to read
\nit,\" the statement, signed by AJI chairwoman Ati Nurbaiti and
\nsecretary general Solahuddin, said here on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
AJI also perceived a \"conflict of interest\", questioning how
\nthe police could be independent while it was processing a lawsuit
\nby the local police chief.<\/p>\n
It referred to clause 4 of the 1999 Press Law which rules that
\na journalist has the right to reject a summons to testify in
\nrelation to their reports.<\/p>\n
The Kendari police district last week issued the summons to
\njournalists Muhammad Aksa of the Kendari Ekspres daily newspaper
\nand Rustam of Kendari Pos. Police also \"visited\" the home of
\nAbdul Halim of the Media Indonesia daily newspaper, the AJI
\nchapter of Kendari reported.<\/p>\n
The summons were related to a defamation lawsuit filed by
\nNorth Sulawesi Police Chief Brig. Gen. Tengku Ashikin Husein
\nagainst a local organization, MARA, which had demanded his
\nresignation.<\/p>\n
MARA is the North Sulawesi Assembly of the People's Mandate.<\/p>\n
The above journalists were among those who covered MARA's
\npress conference of March 24. MARA chairman Hidayatullah had said
\nthat Ashikin should, among other things, resign because his
\nearlier acknowledgement of contributions to the police force by
\nTomy smacked of being a form of upeti (tribute).<\/p>\n
On Tuesday Antara reported that three MARA activists were
\nquestioned by police. They were Secretary General Ali Malik,
\nDeputy Chairman M. Sain and treasurer Abdul Rajab.<\/p>\n
Ashikin was earlier quoted as saying that Tomy had contributed
\nmotorcycles, while MARA accused the provincial police force of
\nreceiving more than Rp 1 billion (about US$100,000) from Tomy.
\nMARA suggested this could persuade the police force to protect
\nTomy's interests in the province should he decide to invest
\nthere.<\/p>\n
MARA said the demands that Ashikin should resign were
\naddressed to National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar and House
\nof Representatives Commission I in charge of public affairs.<\/p>\n
AJI Kendari also reported earlier to the Press Council that
\nthe provincial police chief had visited Kendari Pos on March 27
\nwhere an editor told him that their journalist, Rustam, would not
\nbe allowed to testify. Ashikin then threatened to detain Rustam
\non the grounds of obstructing an investigation, the report said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp5kendari-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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