PWI Central Board Regrets Hotman's Remarks: No Reason to Belittle Journalists
The Central Board of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) has condemned remarks by lawyer Hotman Paris that were considered demeaning to journalists. PWI stated that the profession of a journalist carrying out journalistic duties is regulated by law.
PWI Central Board Chairman Akhmad Munir said that asking questions of sources is an inseparable part of journalistic duties. Therefore, every source, including advocates, has the right to answer or refuse to answer questions, but must still maintain communication ethics.
“Everyone has the right to express an opinion, answer or refuse to answer a journalist’s questions. However, there is no reason to degrade the dignity of the journalistic profession while carrying out journalistic duties. Journalists work in the public interest and are protected by the Press Law,” Akhmad Munir said in a statement on Sunday (19/7/2026).
According to him, the Central PWI does not dispute the legal defence provided by an advocate for their client. However, that defence must not be delivered in a way that degrades other professions or intimidates journalists who are working.
“The Central PWI is not entering into the substance of the legal case that is currently of public concern. Our stance is purely to safeguard the honour of the journalistic profession and ensure every press member can carry out journalistic duties freely, professionally, and with dignity without verbal intimidation from anyone,” he stressed.
Akhmad Munir stated that advocates and journalists are two professions that both have strategic roles in a state of law and democracy. He added that the two professions must respect each other and maintain ethics in every interaction in the public sphere.
In connection with the incident, the Central PWI has asked Advocate Hotman Paris Hutapea to provide a clarification to the public and convey an apology to the press. This step is considered important for maintaining good relations between the advocate and journalist professions and building a healthy democratic climate.
“We do not dispute the right of every advocate to defend their client. However, that defence must still respect other professions. Criticism of a journalist’s questions is reasonable, but it must be delivered politely, professionally, and without degrading the dignity of press members,” Akhmad Munir said.
The Central PWI also reminded all Indonesian journalists to continue carrying out their duties professionally, independently, accurately, fairly, and guided by the Journalistic Code of Ethics. The organisation will continue to carry out its function of defending and protecting every journalist who experiences intimidation, harassment, threats, or other actions that hinder the execution of journalistic work.
“A free press is not born from fear, but from the guarantee that journalists can work professionally without intimidation. Respecting journalists means respecting the public’s right to obtain information. We hope this incident serves as a lesson so that relations between press members and all sources are always based on mutual respect and uphold ethics,” concluded Akhmad Munir.
Previously, the Indonesian Legal Journalists Association (Iwakum) had condemned the remarks by advocate Hotman Paris, which were considered demeaning to the dignity and profession of journalists. Iwakum requested that Hotman Paris issue a public apology.
This was conveyed by Iwakum Chairman Irfan Kamil in response to Hotman Paris’s press conference after accompanying his client, former Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes Febrie Adriansyah, who is a corruption suspect, on Friday (17/7/2026). During the press conference, Hotman Paris was said to have uttered the phrase “do you have a brain?” to a journalist who posed a question at the location.
“We strongly condemn and demand that Hotman Paris apologise for his statements that demean journalists and lead to the suppression of press freedom,” Kamil said in his statement on Sunday (19/7/2026).