Journalists seek Rp 3b over banning

Journalists seek Rp 3b over banning

JAKARTA (JP): Three journalists filed a lawsuit at the South
Jakarta District Court on Thursday against the Attorney General's
Office, demanding Rp 1 billion (US$149,250) each for nonmaterial
losses after being banned from covering stories at the office.

The three journalists -- Bambang Wahyu of Kompas daily, Roy
Pakpahan of Suara Bangsa afternoon paper and Driantama of RCTI
private television station -- also asked for material losses of
Rp 1 million each to compensate them for the losses they suffered
during the June 8 to June 10 banning, the lawsuit said.

The journalists, accompanied by lawyers Apong Herlina, Lelyana
Santosa and Waskito Adiribowo, also demanded the defendant pay
another Rp 10 million to cover their legal costs.

The plaintiffs said if they won the suit they would donate the
Rp 3 billion "to independent journalist associations to support
journalist development programs".

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs also urged the court to declare
banning reporters from covering stories a crime.

The banning of the three journalists was endorsed by the head
of general affairs at the Attorney General's Office, Zainuddin
Jahisa, on June 8.

According to Zainuddin, the three journalists were rude to
then attorney general Andi M. Ghalib during a media conference at
the office shortly after the installment of Deputy Attorney
General for Special Crime Ramelan on May 26.

Ghalib denied banning the journalists from covering news at
the office, saying the reporters were simply asked to behave and
dress properly.

"If necessary, I'll buy ties for them," Ghalib, who is
currently under fire for alleged corruption amounting to Rp 1.8
billion and his failure to probe the suspected wealth of former
president Soeharto, said. (jun)