Journalists protest threats

Journalists protest threats

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: The Southeast Sulawesi branch of The Association of Indonesian Journalists (PWI) and the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) have strongly protested against the intimidation of an RCTI correspondent over a report on illegal logging.

In their statements, the two organizations said that Hamrul, a member of local branch of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) had threatened Paterai last Thursday over reports on Dec. 25 2001 about the alleged involvement of the head of PDI Perjuangan provincial chapter in illegal logging.

"The threat by Hamrul is against the freedom of the press, as stipulated by law No. 40/1999," the statements said.

Chairman of the journalists' defense team Nurhanuddin said that anyone violating the law was subject to a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or a Rp 500 million fine.

Chairman of PDI Perjuangan's South Sulawesi chapter Laode Rifai Pedansa said on Saturday that he had been questioned by police over illegal logging covering a total of 2,200 cubic meters of teak wood. "But the questioning was more political," he said.

Rifai said he had no idea about Hamrul's action, but admitted to having been uneasy with the report. "Hamrul's action might have been spontaneous because the alleged involvement of other political parties in illegal logging was not reported. This was not fair," said Rifai. --Antara