Journalists reject PWI leaders

Journalists reject PWI leaders

YOGYAKARTA: About 100 journalists from Yogyakarta, Jakarta,
Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, the West Java of capital
Bandung, and Central Java cities of Semarang, Surakarta and Kudus
have declared a vote of no confidence in the new leadership of
the Association of Indonesian Journalists (PWI).

In the "Yogyakarta Declaration", the journalists said they
rejected the leadership of Tarman Azzam and secretary-general
Bambang Sadono. The declaration was read out by senior journalist
Masduki Attamimi in a gathering on Saturday at the Radisson
Hotel.

"We demand that they resign immediately," the journalists
said. They also called for PWI to be developed into a
professional and independent association of journalists.

The forum was also attended by senior journalists Fikri Jufri
of Tempo, Budiman S. Hartoyo of D&R, Satrio Arismunandar -- a
former Kompas reporter who was expelled by PWI for establishing
an alternative reporter association, Dahlan Iskan of Jawa Pos and
Atmakusumah Astraatmadja.

PWI has in the past been criticized for having too close a tie
with the government. (23/swa)