IFJ Calls On Indonesia To Drop Charges Against Journalist Over Palm Oil Investigation
Faizan Hashmi Published July 27, 2020 | 06:46 PM
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on Monday called on the Indonesian judiciary to drop all charges against investigative journalist Diananta Putra Sumedi who faces up to six months in jail over a publication
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th July, 2020) The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on Monday called on the Indonesian judiciary to drop all charges against investigative journalist Diananta Putra Sumedi who faces up to six months in jail over a publication.
Diananta was arrested in May over an article published on local news site Banjarhits.id in November 2019. The article centered around an alleged land grab by a large palm oil company that could deprive an indigenous population of their ancestral habitat.
Diananta was charged with "causing hatred or hostility against individuals and groups" under the Electronic and Information Transactions code.
In a statement released on Monday, the IFJ teamed up with the Alliance of Independent Journalists Indonesia (AJI) to pressure the court to transfer the case to the Indonesian Press Council, which has the legal competencies to see the matter through.
"The IFJ calls on authorities to dismiss the charges against Diananta and allow the Press Council to adjudicate on the matter," the organization said.
The AJI added that the Press Council had already studied the case and gave its recommendations and that the trial was little more than an intimidation tactic.
"The authorities ignore the fact that the Press Council has handled this matter and produced recommendations. The trial and charges can be used as intimidation tools for journalists who had reported critically," the AJI was quoted as saying.
Indonesia is one of the world's largest palm oil producers, a multi-billion Dollar industry that has come under scrutiny from environmental groups over the practice of clearing large areas of Southeast Asian rainforest to make way for palm monoculture.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
4-day book fair opens
30 wheelchairs donated
11 dead, 1295 injured in road accidents
46 vehicles impounded for traffic violations
PSX gains 771 points
PITB HR Wing organizes Eid Milan celebration for children at PITB Day Care Cente ..
Cabinet briefed on progress of PIA privatization
Meeting held to streamline trade between Pak-Afghan , Central Asian Republics
SONY x TECNO - is this for real?
Progress of Aaghosh, Bunyad, Khud Mukhtar programs discussed
SBP to announce monetary policy on April 29
London stocks hit new record peak on takeovers
More Stories From World
-
UK man charged with 'Russia-backed arson plot' on Ukraine-linked targets
34 minutes ago -
EU toughens safety rules for online retailer Shein
35 minutes ago -
French barber still trimming at 90
35 minutes ago -
Barrett inspires Crusaders' return to form against Rebels
44 minutes ago -
Philippine settlement submerged by dam reappears due to drought
45 minutes ago -
Blinken says US campus protests part of 'democracy'
1 hour ago
-
Vietnam National Assembly head resigns amid graft purge
1 hour ago -
Team from Gaza mediator Egypt heads to Israel: source
2 hours ago -
Xi tells Blinken US, China should be 'partners, not rivals'
2 hours ago -
Ukraine agriculture minister freed on bail in corruption case
2 hours ago -
Vietnam National Assembly head resigns amid graft purge
2 hours ago -
Calls for mosque demolition weigh on India's Muslim voters
2 hours ago