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)