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Dipo reported to police over boycott threat
Media outlets on Saturday filed a report with the National Police against Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam over his threat to boycott media companies that were critical of the government
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edia outlets on Saturday filed a report with the National Police against Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam over his threat to boycott media companies that were critical of the government.
Otto Cornelis Kaligis, a lawyer for the Media Group, confirmed his client had requested police investigate Dipo for alleged violations of the 1999 Press Law and the 2008 Freedom of Information Law.
On Thursday, Kaligis called on Dipo to issue a public apology by Sunday at 12 p.m. or face a lawsuit.
“Dipo has deliberately ignored our demand to publicly apologize for his controversial statements. Wefeel legal action is now necessary,” he said.
“Dipo was once an activist. He should [know] that he has the right to make a complaint to media
outlets in accordance with the press law, but instead he chose to issue [threats].”
Dipo has made statements seen as threats against TVOne and Media Group’s Media Indonesia daily and Metro TV. Dipo said the three companies intended to “spread hatred of the government” by publishing tendentious reports.
He called on government agencies to cease placing advertisements on the three outlets and said he planned to block their journalists from receiving government information.
“It would be better if the money allocated for large billboards or other advertisements, especially in media that is critical of the government, was used to relate the successes of the government and not only to showcase ministers,” Dipo said last week.
He previously said he would not respond to Media Group’s demand. “What’s wrong with my statements? Why should I apologize? The statements are supposed to be taken as criticism of the media.”
Dipo said his statements were his personal views.
The Press Council on Thursday invited Dipo to attend a closed-door meeting with council’s members.
Agus Sudibyo, the council’s head of public complaints and press ethics enforcement commission, said mediation efforts between the three media outlets and Dipo were still ongoing.
“However, if Media Group wants to file a police report, that’s their right,” Agus was quoted as saying by news portal detik.com.
TVOne has not signaled if it would seek legal action against Dipo.
Representatives from the three outlets denied their newsrooms created reports with the intention of “spreading hatred of the government”.
Constitutional Court chief justice Mahfud MD said he was disappointed to hear Dipo’s statements.
“The country has been struggled to obtain press freedom for years, and now a huge step back is made by a close aide to the President,” he said.
