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)