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)