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Alert

"Tempo" magazine, journalists attacked

(AJI/IFEX) - The following is a letter by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which AJI is a member:

Jakarta, March 10, 2003

Tomy Winata
Artha Graha Group
Jl. Jendral Sudirman, Kav. 52-53, Central Jakarta
Ph: +62 21-5152020/5152088
Fax: +62 21-5152570

Police Commissioner Sukrawardi Dahlan
Central Jakarta Police Headquarters
Jl. Kramat Raya 61, Central Jakarta
Ph: +62 21-3909425
Fax: +62 21-3909425

Dear Sirs,

Saturday, March 8, 2003 was a dark day for press freedom in Indonesia, and particularly for Tempo magazine, as thugs from the Artha Graha Group (GAG) and Banteng Muda Indonesia (BMI) rallied outside the magazine's offices and assaulted its chief editor and journalists.


At 10:00 a.m., a mass of more than 200 men held banners, yelled obscenities and tried to crash the gate. They were protesting against a Tempo article, entitled "Is Tommy Behind 'Tenabang'?", issued in the March 3 - March 9, 2003 edition of the magazine, in which it reported that contractor Tomy Winata had lodged a Rp53 billion renovation proposal to the Jakarta administration last February. Tempo described Mr Winata as a "big garbage collector."

The protesters demanded that Tempo issue a correction to its article, apologise and reveal its sources. During negotiation between Mr Winata's men and Tempo staff, one of the protesters threw a wooden tissue box at Tempo editorial staff member Ahmad Taufik. Taufik deflected the box, however it hit reporter Abdul Manan, cutting his upper cheek. Manan was later taken to hospital for treatment.

As the talks got heated, the leader of the protesters, David (AKA A Miauw), approached and threatened the journalists, saying, "If no one is brought to the police, I cannot guarantee that nothing will happen to Tempo," he said. "The mass is already fuming."

Eventually, Chief Editor Bambang Harymurti and editors Karaniya Dharmasaputra and Ahmad Taufik went to Police Headquarters. While bargaining with the protesters, Harymurti and Dharmasaputra were punched by a Winata supporter employed by the Artha Graha Group.

As an organisation dedicated to the protection of journalists and the promotion of freedom of the press, SEAPA Jakarta deplores the protesters' actions. Tomy Winata and his supporters have legal means at their disposal to protest, as well as a right of response. Their violent approach points to a further deterioration of freedom of the press, which is an essential recipe for democracy. Mr Winata and his supporters must also realise that Article 4 (Paragraph 4) of Regulation No. 40/1999 guarantees the confidentiality of news sources.

SEAPA also demands that police uphold justice in handling this case by prosecuting those responsible for the attack, especially those who ordered it. SEAPA and other media advocacy organisations worldwide will monitor this case closely.

Yours Respectfully,

Lukas Luwarso
Country Director

Solahudin
Advocacy Coordinator

Recommended Action

Similar protest letters can be sent to:

Tomy Winata
Artha Graha Group
Jl. Jendral Sudirman, Kav. 52-53, Central Jakarta
Tel: +62 21 5152020 / 5152088
Fax: +62 21 5152570

Police Commissioner Sukrawardi Dahlan
Central Jakarta Police Headquarters
Jl. Kramat Raya 61, Central Jakarta
Tel: +62 21 3909425
Fax: +62 21 3909425

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.