AJI celebrates anniversary in simple, solemn manner

AJI celebrates anniversary in simple, solemn manner

JAKARTA (JP): The Independent Journalist Association (AJI),
which is not recognized by the government, celebrated its first
anniversary yesterday in a simple, solemn manner.

The celebration was marked by dozens of the association's
members gathering at the Central Jakarta District Court an hour
before the trial of their three comrades.

The three activists, Ahmad Taufik, Eko Maryadi and Danang
Kukuh Wardoyo, are currently under the court's custody on charges
of sowing hatred and hostility among the public and against the
government.

According to Article 154 of the Criminal Code, the three face
a maximum of seven years in jail if found guilty.

Prosecutor T.S. Limbong, who indicted both Ahmad and Eko in
the preliminary trial, charged that the two defendants were
engaged in public acts by expressing hostility, enmity and
insults against the government. He also said that the two have
used the press for their own and the group's interests, and acted
against the law.

Meanwhile prosecutor Meity Joseph, who pressed the charges on
Danang, accused him of expressing hatred against the government
in public.

Ahmad, chairman of the association's presidium, said in
yesterday's celebration that the association would remain
faithful to the Sirnagalih Declaration they signed last year on
the struggle for press freedom.

"Nothing can stop us from our struggle for Indonesian press
freedom," he said.

The celebration was also attended by a number of
representatives of non-governmental organizations, including the
Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation, the Indonesian Environmental
Forum and the Pijar Foundation.

The unrecognized journalists association was established on
Aug. 7, 1994, following the closing of the three news weeklies
Tempo, Editor, and DeTik, in June of the same year.

About 70 journalists signed the Sirnagalih Declaration that
led to the establishment of the association. Officials of the
government-backed Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) refute
the declaration because it includes a passage denying PWI has the
sole right to represent journalists.

Thirteen members of the association have been kicked out of
the PWI, including Goenawan Mohamad and Fikri Jufri, the former
chief editor and former acting chief editor of Tempo
respectively.(imn)