`Fight against thuggery is for press freedom and legal certainty'
`Fight against thuggery is for press freedom and legal certainty'
Suherdjoko and Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan/Semarang
Hundreds of journalists staged a demonstration in Semarang, the
capital of Central Java, and Medan, the capital of North Sumatra,
to condemn intimidation toward the media, saying thuggery in all
forms must be halted to ensure legal certainty and press freedom.
More than 100 journalists from the print and the electronic
media as well as activists staged a peaceful rally along the main
streets of Semarang to call on the nation, especially security
personnel and law enforcers, to stage an all-out battle against
thuggery.
Brandishing banners condemning thuggery, the protesters from
the local print media, radio and TV stations laid down their work
tools such as cameras, radios, tape recorders and press cards on
the street to symbolize their opposition to thuggery.
The protesters also distributed circulars containing Article
18 of the 1999 law on the media threatening violators with a
maximum two-year jail sentence or a fine of Rp 500 million.
Hundreds of journalists also held a similar demonstration in
Medan, declaring war against thuggery. They held a 30-meter
banner reading Perang total terhadap premanisme (All-out war
against thuggery).
Harsono, coordinator of the demonstration, said thuggery must
be eradicated because it was the main enemy of the democracy the
nation was trying to develop in the reform era.
"Thuggery, which has affected not only the media but also
other parts of civil society, including the judiciary, the
bureaucracy and other state institutions, must be fought.
"Democracy here will remain stagnant, the law will be in the
hands of hoodlums, security personnel will never become
professional and law enforcers will lose their dignity unless
thuggery is eradicated immediately," said Harsono.
The demonstrations were held to support nationwide
condemnation of the recent attack on the Tempo weekly magazine
offices in Jakarta, which many say was not only an insult to
press freedom but also to democracy. The attack occurred under
the noses of police personnel by hundreds of youths believed to
be acting under the orders of Artha Graha Group owner Tomy
Winata.
The attack was in reaction to an article by Tempo in its March
3 issue on the recent fire at Tanah Abang textile market. The
article implied that Tomy could profit from the fire. Tomy is
widely thought to be close to Army officers, and has been accused
of involvement in gambling activities in the country.
Harsono said there had been eight cases of violence against
journalists over the last three years, but none of the cases had
been resolved in court.
Reinhard Simarmata, a protester in Medan, said journalists
were committed to fighting against thuggery, since several local
media offices had been attacked several times in the last few
years.
Hanifah Harahap, coordinator of the demonstration, said they
would deliver the banner to the Tempo offices in Jakarta in an
expression of solidarity.