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Court applauded for freeing environmental activist from hate speech conviction
Judges to the high court argued that, although Daniel was found guilty of violating the ITE law, he was an environmental activist who was fighting to ensure a sustainable environment for the wider community, and hence should be protected in his activism.
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Environmental activist Daniel Frits Maurits Tangkilisan greets his supporters ahead of his verdict hearing at the Jepara District Court in Jepara, Central Java on April 4, 2024. A panel of judges finds him guilty of defamation for his Facebook post pertaining to the pollution from shrimp farms in Karimunjawa Islands in Central Java, punishing him with seven months of imprisonment and a Rp 5 million (US$315) fine. (Antara/Aji Styawan)
E
nvironment organizations have applauded Semarang high court’s decision to acquit environmentalist Daniel Frits Maurits Tangkilisan from all charges after he was found guilty of "spreading hate speech online" in the lower court for opposing shrimp farming in Karimunjawa Islands.
Last month, the Jepara District Court sentenced Daniel to seven months in prison and ordered him to pay a Rp 5 million (US$315) fine for violating Article 45A of the 2016 Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law.
Daniel uploaded a video on Facebook in November 2022 showing the condition of Cemara beach in Karimunjawa Islands, which was heavily polluted with chemical waste from mostly-illegal shrimp farms on the islands.
Replying to a comment on his video, he wrote that residents of the area had otak udang (shrimp brains) for enjoying free shrimp from such destructive farms, which some Karimunjawa residents alleged constituted hate speech.
He was reported to the Jepara police in March 2023 and was subsequently arrested in January of this year. Following the Jepara District Court’s ruling, Daniel filed an appeal to the Semarang high court.
Judges to the high court argued that, although Daniel was found guilty of violating the ITE law, he was an environmental activist who was fighting to ensure a sustainable environment for the wider community, and hence should be protected in his activism.
"The court hereby frees the defendant from all charges and restores his rights, position, honor and dignity. The court also orders the defendant to be released from prison immediately," presiding judge Suko Priyowododo said as reported by Kompas.
