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n light of the recent death of journalist Muhammad Yusuf, 42, from Kotabaru regency, South Kalimantan, the Press Council reiterated its stance that his work was not in line with professional journalism, thus removing him from the protection of the press.

Yusuf, who worked for online news portal KemajuanRakyat.co.id, died at Kotabaru Regional Public Hospital on Sunday after being in police custody on defamation and hate speech charges filed by PT Multi Sarana Agro Mandiri (MSAM).

The council had investigated 23 of Yusuf’s published articles, some of which were about MSAM and published either on KemajuanRakyat.co.id and another lesser known online news portal berantasnews.com.

“The council’s press expert concluded that Yusuf’s articles were generally unverified, unbalanced, and opinionated,” said the its chairman, Yoseph Adi Prasetyo, in a statement on Tuesday.

Most of Yusuf works in question, the council said, were one-sided articles and not in line with the duties and responsibilities of a journalist, as stipulated in the 1999 Press Law.

This subsequently led to him not being eligible for protection from prosecution, as provided by the Press Law. Yusuf was reported to the police by MSAM, an oil palm plantation company that is owned by coal tycoon Syamsudin Andi Arsyad who is also known as Haji Isam.

The council said it did not received any reports from parties that were disadvantaged by Yusuf’s articles, and that it only jumped in on the defamation case as a response to the Kotabaru Police’s request on March 28 seeking testimony from an expert witness from the council.

The council’s vice chairman, Sabam Leo Batubara, who acted as the expert witness, concluded that Yusuf’s 23 articles had defied the Press Law.

The police arrested Yusuf after consulting the council, a move required in an existing memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the police and the council to uphold press freedom.

Yusuf had reportedly complained of breathing difficulties and chest pain a day before being rushed to the hospital.

“Our deepest condolences to the family,” Yoseph said. “We, the council, also hoped that Yusuf’s death will be properly handled in accordance to the existing laws.”

The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) was concerned about Yusuf’s death, with its chairman, Abdul Manan, saying the authorities “need to clarify whether his cause of death was natural or if there is any other factor that contributed to his death, such as violence”.

The AJI, he said, was aware that Yusuf’s articles were not considered true journalism due to its unbalanced reporting.

“However, when such a case occurs parties who are being disadvantaged by his reporting should ask for the right of reply first as stipulated in the Press Law.”

Yusuf’s case, Abdul added, should serve as a lesson to journalists to always comply with the journalism code of ethics when performing their duties. (dpk)