PWI Jaya's team to defend 'Tajuk'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta chapter of the government-backed
\nIndonesian Journalists Association (PWI Jaya) has set up a team
\nof legal advisors to defend the Tajuk fortnightly should the
\nJakarta Military Command file a lawsuit against the magazine.<\/p>\n
The move could be dubbed as an extraordinary maneuver, as the
\nassociation had for many years been lacking in a show of support
\nof the media, particularly when the latter was dealing with the
\nauthorities.<\/p>\n
PWI Jaya's deputy chairman, Ilham Bintang, said on Friday that
\nthe defense team, made up mostly of journalists and members of
\nthe association, was set up also at the request of Tajuk's chief
\neditor, Mohammad Cholid.<\/p>\n
Ilham said team members, headed by Bachtiar Sitanggang, are
\nOmar Samsoeri (Kompas), Wina Armada (Forum), Bob Silitonga
\n(Berita Yudha) and Timbo Siahaan (Jayakarta).<\/p>\n
However, Ilham did not elaborate on whether the team would
\nfully act as lawyers for Tajuk but, he said, PWI Jaya still
\nwelcomed any lawyer from legal organizations to join in.<\/p>\n
Three days earlier, the city military command publicly
\nannounced that it would sue the magazine over its Sept. 3 report
\nalleging complicity of the command and its former chief Maj. Gen.
\nSjafrie Sjamsoeddin in the mid-May riot.<\/p>\n
Besides claiming a criminal law violation, the command is also
\nseeking damages of about Rp 600 billion from the magazine for
\ndefamation.<\/p>\n
PWI Jaya chairman Tarman Azzam said his organization
\nappreciated the decision taken by the city military commander
\nMaj. Gen. Djadja Suparman to apply such a legal procedure.<\/p>\n
"But we'd like to suggest that the Jakarta Military Command
\nuse procedural means in stages before bringing this matter to the
\ncourt.<\/p>\n
"For example, the command could first ask for its right to
\nclarify the report," he said in a statement on Friday.<\/p>\n
The magazine's reports included allegations of an involvement
\nof then Jakarta Military commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin
\nand his men in the mid-May riots and the recent abduction of
\nseveral activists. (ivy)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pwi-jayas-team-to-defend-tajuk-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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