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'KR' slammed for defending graft suspect
Anti-corruption activists, under the auspices of the Yogyakarta Anti Corruption Movement, rallied on Monday to protest against daily newspaper Kedaulatan Rakyat (KR), whose reporting they claimed had violated the journalistic code of ethics by defending graft suspect Idham Samawi
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nti-corruption activists, under the auspices of the Yogyakarta Anti Corruption Movement, rallied on Monday to protest against daily newspaper Kedaulatan Rakyat (KR), whose reporting they claimed had violated the journalistic code of ethics by defending graft suspect Idham Samawi.
Idham, the former regent of Bantul, Yogyakarta, has been named a suspect by the Yogyakarta Prosecutor's Office for allegedly embezzling Rp 12.5 billion (about US$960,000) from a local soccer club, Persiba Bantul.
Idham, an Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) member, is one of the owners of KR, the oldest newspaper in the country.
'We deem that KR, through its reporting, has acted as a mouthpiece of the graft suspect and not as a pillar of democracy,' activist Tri Wahyu K.H. told the crowd in front of the KR office on Monday.
The activists carried banners saying, 'Uphold the journalism code of ethics,' 'The media is a pillar of democracy and not a political mouthpiece,' and 'Don't buy a paper in favor of a suspect.'
After staging the rally, the activists sent a complaint letter to the Press Council and notified the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) of the existence of a media outlet that defended a corruption suspect.
The Yogyakarta Anti Corruption Movement stated that KR had published 13 reports, the contents of which tended to defend Idham, and they claimed the reports violated the journalistic code of ethics, especially Article 1, which stipulates that the media should be independent in its news coverage.
Among the articles where 'Idham ineligible to be named suspect' and 'Organizing sports requires more sacrifice', published on March 13, and 'Idham's case marked by politicizing and criminalization,' and 'Case will be terminated due to insufficient evidence', published on March 15.
'We've officially filed a report against KR's chief editor to the Press Council and informed the KPK about the case. We urge the Press Council to evaluate and issue a recommendation regarding the alleged violation of the journalistic code of ethics,' said Tri Wahyu.
The Yogyakarta Prosecutor's Office named Idham a suspect in a case involving money given to the Bantul branch of the Indonesian Soccer Federation (Persiba) two years previously. Idham, who failed in his run for a seat in the House of Representatives in last year's election, served as Bantul National Sports Committee and Persiba caretaker when the case began.
Despite naming him a suspect, the prosecutor's office has yet to submit the case to court. Last month, office head I Gede Sudiatmaja said the case was still being investigated.
The chief editor of KR Octo Lampito, however, told reporters the protest was a form of restraint on press freedom. 'I deplore this. It is a form of restraint on freedom of the press. Just write a letter of complaint or ask for a meeting. I'm prepared and will always be open,' he said.
Octo said KR understood the journalistic mechanisms and had not formed a special team to defend Idham, adding that news sources who tended to defend Idham also had the right to speak.
'We are ready to clarify the issue with the Press Council,' said Octo.
