The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) welcomes the successful mediation of a dispute between Indonesia’s police forces and Tempo magazine by the country’s Press Council.
The June 28 issue of Tempo featured an illustration showing a uniformed policeman with piggy banks on its cover, for the story “Fat Bank Accounts of Police Officers”, on alleged suspicious bank accounts held by several high-ranking police officers.
The caricature prompted Indonesia’s police headquarters to file criminal defamation charges against the magazine with the Police Criminal Unit, an institution under the authority of the national police.
“The IFJ is pleased that mediation between the two parties by the Indonesian Press Council, an action recommended by our affiliate, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), has resulted in a successful outcome for all involved,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.
“It was regrettable that police did not first follow procedures stipulated under Press Law No. 40/1999, which allows for right of reply or to file a complaint with the Indonesian Press Council,” Park said.
Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:00:51
