ID :
19270
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 21:21
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/19270
The shortlink copeid
LEGISLATORS CONCERNED ABOUT COURT VERDICT ON TEMPO MAGAZINE
Jakarta, Sept 12 (ANTARA) - A number of legislators have expressed concern about a court ruling on a defamation case involving Tempo news magazine that was based on the country's Civil Code instead of its Press Law.
Under the ruling issued by the Central Jakarta District Court, the publisher of Tempo was ordered to apologize in writing and publicly to a private company it had in one of its reports accused of tax evasion. Tempo also had to pay Rp50 million in damages.
"Without intending to interfere in judiciary processes, I hope, in handling cases involving the press, the courts will also use the Press Law and not only the Civil Code," said Theo L Sambuaga, chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I.
The court required Tempo to apologize to Asian Agri Group openly in three national mass media for carrying a report saying the group had evaded taxes.
Two other House members, Mutammimul Ula and Jeffrey Massie, also criticized the court verdict on Tempo.
"The spirit of the Press Law is different from that of the Civil Code," said Ula after noting the verdict wast only based on the Civil Code.
Jeffrey Massie who has a journalistic background said the verdict on Tempo had added to the long list of court decisions that had been taken without deeper considerations of the functions of the press and their legal umbrella.
The Central Jakarta District Court had ordered PT Tempo Inti Media Tbk, the company publishing Tempo news magazine, to place full-page-long apologies over its report on Asian Agri Group in three national mass media -- Tempo magazine, Kompas and Tempo dailies -- for three successive days.
PT Tempo Inti Media Tbk through Tempo magazine published an investigative report on Jan. 15-21, 2007 suggesting that Asian Agri Group had cheated the state in fulfilling its fiscal obligations.
"This really indicates the panel of judges did not fully understand the Press Law. It means the judges only based their verdict on the Civil Code," Ula said, adding the court's ignorance about the Press Law was "really pitiful."
"Therefore, the Supreme Court must issue guidelines for judges to consider the Press Law in handling journalistic cases," Ula added.
"The Supreme Court must take concrete action to improve judges' comprehension about the Press Law. If this is not done soon, our press freedom will be put in danger, and this would obviously affect the democratic system we are cultivating," Ula said.
Under the ruling issued by the Central Jakarta District Court, the publisher of Tempo was ordered to apologize in writing and publicly to a private company it had in one of its reports accused of tax evasion. Tempo also had to pay Rp50 million in damages.
"Without intending to interfere in judiciary processes, I hope, in handling cases involving the press, the courts will also use the Press Law and not only the Civil Code," said Theo L Sambuaga, chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I.
The court required Tempo to apologize to Asian Agri Group openly in three national mass media for carrying a report saying the group had evaded taxes.
Two other House members, Mutammimul Ula and Jeffrey Massie, also criticized the court verdict on Tempo.
"The spirit of the Press Law is different from that of the Civil Code," said Ula after noting the verdict wast only based on the Civil Code.
Jeffrey Massie who has a journalistic background said the verdict on Tempo had added to the long list of court decisions that had been taken without deeper considerations of the functions of the press and their legal umbrella.
The Central Jakarta District Court had ordered PT Tempo Inti Media Tbk, the company publishing Tempo news magazine, to place full-page-long apologies over its report on Asian Agri Group in three national mass media -- Tempo magazine, Kompas and Tempo dailies -- for three successive days.
PT Tempo Inti Media Tbk through Tempo magazine published an investigative report on Jan. 15-21, 2007 suggesting that Asian Agri Group had cheated the state in fulfilling its fiscal obligations.
"This really indicates the panel of judges did not fully understand the Press Law. It means the judges only based their verdict on the Civil Code," Ula said, adding the court's ignorance about the Press Law was "really pitiful."
"Therefore, the Supreme Court must issue guidelines for judges to consider the Press Law in handling journalistic cases," Ula added.
"The Supreme Court must take concrete action to improve judges' comprehension about the Press Law. If this is not done soon, our press freedom will be put in danger, and this would obviously affect the democratic system we are cultivating," Ula said.
