PWI formalizes members' sacking

PWI formalizes members' sacking

JAKARTA (JP): The central board of the Association of Indonesian Journalists (PWI) endorsed yesterday its Jakarta branch's decision to fire 13 of its members for joining the unrecognized Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).

Chairman Sofjan Lubis, secretary general Parni Hadi and Jakarta branch chairman Tarman Azzam announced that the decision was taken after careful consideration.

"The PWI central board met several times to discuss the case," Sofjan said.

PWI Jakarta dismissed 13 members last month for challenging the association after the government closed the Tempo, Editor and DeTIK news-weeklies last year.

The journalists, together with more than 50 others, signed the Sirnagalih Declaration in August that lead to the establishment of AJI. PWI officials are angered by the declaration because it contains a passage denying PWI has the right to be the sole organization to represent the journalistic profession.

Most of those kicked out of were former Tempo journalists, including Goenawan Mohamad and Fikri Jufri.

Sofjan also called on editors to uphold the organization's decision, and not to employ the 13 as journalists.

"If we find that there are editors who still employ them, then we will reprimand them, or mete out sanctions if necessary," Sofjan said. "However, I just hope that the editors will uphold PWI's decision."

Sofjan said the organization "still has its door open" if the 13 journalists wish to register as members. "Certainly, they should meet requirements," Sofjan said. (swe)