Indonesian Editors Forum Rebukes Hotman Paris for Disrespecting Journalist

The Indonesian Chief Editors Forum (Forum Pemred) has issued a strong statement of regret regarding the conduct of lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea, who was deemed to have disrespected the journalistic profession. The incident occurred during a press conference at the Attorney General’s Office, where Hotman was accompanying his client, former Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) Febrie Adriansyah, who was undergoing questioning as a suspect. During the media session, Hotman responded to a journalist’s question by saying, ‘Do you have a brain or not?’ The remark quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread debate. Forum Pemred stated that while a source has the right to refuse to answer a question, such a refusal should not be expressed through words or attitudes that demean the profession. The forum emphasized that the act of asking questions is a fundamental part of the journalistic process, aimed at confirmation and verification, and is legally protected under Law Number 40 of 1999 on the Press. They urged all parties to respect the duties of journalists carrying out their work in accordance with the law.