Two journalists imprisoned for sowing hatred

JAKARTA (JP): Two journalists were sentenced to 32 months imprisonment each yesterday after the Central Jakarta District Court found them guilty of sowing hatred against the government through a publication they helped publish and distribute.

Ahmad Taufik, 29, and Eko Maryadi, 27, were convicted under article 154 of the Criminal Code and article 19 of the 1982 Press Law.

Judge Madjono Widiatmadja, who presided over the trial, said both men had spread hatred against the government through the Independen bulletin, which they published and distributed.

"What the defendants did could have disturbed national unity and sparked public unrest," Judge Madjono said in delivering his verdict.

The government prosecutors had earlier demanded four years imprisonment for each of the defendants.

The magazine, published by the Alliance of Independence Journalists (AJI), contains articles very critical of the government. Taufik and Eko, journalists by profession, contributed to some of the articles. Taufik is AJI's chief and Eko is its chief secretary.

The alliance was founded by a group of young journalists last year in the wake of the government's decision to revoke the license of three weekly news magazines. The government has declared AJI an illegal organization, insisting that the law only recognizes one umbrella for the journalistic profession -- the Indonesian Journalists' Association (PWI).

Another AJI activist, 19-year-old Danang Kukuh Wardoyo, was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment by the same court last week for his role in helping distribute copies of Independen to members of the public.

The three were arrested after they were seen handing out the bulletin to guests at an AJI reception at the Wisata Hotel in Jakarta last March.

Article 154 of the Criminal Code states that anyone who sows hatred against the government is liable to prosecution with maximum jail sentence of seven years.

Pandemonium

Article 19 of the 1982 Press Law refers to violations and failures of journalists to observe the roles and functions assigned to them by the legislation.

Pandemonium broke out in the court room as soon as Judge Madjono finished reading his sentence, with supporters of the journalists, who packed the gallery, accusing the judge of lacking impartiality and of succumbing to government pressure.

An eyewitness said three protesters were taken away by police officers. Chief of the Central Jakarta Police precinct, Lt. Col. Murawi Effendi, later said only one protester was being held for questioning.

Both Taufik and Eko told Judge Madjono that they would appeal against the sentences.

"Despite distortions in the legal process in this country, I will fight for my rights and for justice," Taufik said.

Judge Madjono in his verdict said that Taufik and Eko along with other AJI members broke the 1982 press law by publishing Independen without a press publication permit from the Ministry of Information.

He also found the contents of the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th editions of Independen -- which were presented as material evidence during the trial -- as offensive to the government.

As AJI's president and chief secretary, Taufik and Eko must bear responsibility for the publication of Independen, he said.(29)

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