Journalists to sue legislator for slander

Journalists to sue legislator for slander

SURABAYA (JP): A dispute between reporters and local
legislators is dragging on after 25 Surabaya-based journalists
announced on Monday their plan to sue a member of the provincial
legislature for slander.

The lawsuit will be filed against Adrianus Harsono of the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), who
earlier accused the journalists of illicit cooperation with
provincial administration officials to discredit the legislators.

The decision to seek legal settlement was made after
evaluating the transcript of the legislators' meeting last
Friday.

Adrianus reportedly used profanity in accusing the reporters
of playing one legislator against another, a journalist said.

The row began last week when the legislative council announced
its plan to curb media access to legislators. The Indonesian
Military (TNI)/Police faction supported the idea.

It was PDI Perjuangan and the National Awakening Party (PKB),
the two dominant factions, which put forward the proposal.
Reporters who cover the legislative council opposed the idea,
saying it breached freedom of speech.

On Monday, the 25 reporters left the press room at the
legislative council and threatened a boycott.

Djoko Tetuko, deputy chairman of organization and advocacy at
the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) branch office, said
he would seek legal advice from the Surabaya Legal Aid Institute
(LBH) in suing Adrianus for professional harassment.

East Java Governor Imam Utomo said he was surprised by the
legislator's accusation against the reporters.

"I have never seen or heard about a conspiracy between the
reporters and me or my subordinates. The executives have become
the target of criticism by the press. But I like it. The
criticism has made us move and work quickly."

Speaker of the East Java provincial legislative council Bisri
Abdul Djalil welcomed the reporters' boycott plan. "That's
better." (nur/sur)