AJI rebukes summoning of journalists over defamation case
AJI rebukes summoning of journalists over defamation case
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) on Tuesday
expressed its full support for journalists in Kendari, Southeast
Sulawesi, who have refused to comply with a police summons to
testify in a defamation case involving the police and noted
businessman Tomy Winata.
"The summons are ridiculous because a journalists' testimony
is already provided in his report," the statement, signed by AJI
chairwoman Ati Nurbaiti, said here on Tuesday.
AJI also perceived a "conflict of interest", questioning how
the police could be independent while it was processing a lawsuit
by the local police chief.
It referred to clause 4 of the 1999 Press Law which rules that
a journalist has the right to reject a summons to testify in
relation to their reports.
The Kendari police district last week issued the summons to
journalists Muhammad Aksa of the Kendari Ekspres daily newspaper
and Rustam of Kendari Pos. Police also "visited" the home of
Abdul Halim of the Media Indonesia daily newspaper, the AJI
chapter of Kendari reported.
The summons were related to a defamation lawsuit filed by
North Sulawesi Police Chief Brig. Gen. Tengku Ashikin Husein
against a local organization, MARA, which had demanded his
resignation.
MARA is the North Sulawesi Assembly of the People's Mandate.
The above journalists were among those who covered MARA's
press conference of March 24. MARA chairman Hidayatullah had said
that Ashikin should, among other things, resign because his
earlier acknowledgement of contributions to the police force by
Tomy smacked of being a form of upeti (tribute).
On Tuesday Antara reported that three MARA activists were
questioned by police. They were Secretary General Ali Malik,
Deputy Chairman M. Sain and treasurer Abdul Rajab.
Ashikin was earlier quoted as saying that Tomy had contributed
motorcycles, while MARA accused the provincial police force of
receiving more than Rp 1 billion (about US$100,000) from Tomy.
MARA suggested this could persuade the police force to protect
Tomy's interests in the province should he decide to invest
there.
MARA said the demands that Ashikin should resign were
addressed to National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar and House
of Representatives Commission I in charge of public affairs.
AJI Kendari also reported earlier to the Press Council that
the provincial police chief had visited Kendari Pos on March 27
where an editor told him that their journalist, Rustam, would not
be allowed to testify. Ashikin then threatened to detain Rustam
on the grounds of obstructing an investigation, the report said.