TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search results
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search resultsPress unions demand apology from Prabowo for denigrating comments
Labelling of journalists as londo ireng, or black Dutchmen, was condescending, belittling and delegitimizing to journalists' profession.
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
President Prabowo Subianto delivers a speech on July 23 during the 28th anniversary celebration of the National Awakening Party (PKB) in Jakarta. Held under the theme “A New Direction for the Constitutional Economic Mandate“, the event reaffirmed the party's commitment to supporting the government in strengthening Indonesia's economy. (Antara/Hafidz Mubarak A)
S
everal press unions have demanded President Prabowo Subianto apologize after calling journalists londo ireng (black Dutchmen) during a speech, condemning the statement as denigrating journalists.
The press unions, consisting of the Alliance of Independent Journalists, Journalists Association of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago (AJMAN), Alternative Media Coalition (KOMA), Society of Indonesian Environmental Journalists (SIEJ), Indonesian Photojournalist Association (PFI) and Archipelago Media Development Society (PPMN), condemned Prabowo’s statement for slandering the journalistic profession.
AJI chairwoman Nany Afrida said the labelling of journalists as londo ireng, or the black Dutchman, was condescending, belittling and delegitimizing to the profession of journalism and the work they produce.
The term also carries a connotation of collaborating with foreign interests instead of defending one’s own country.
Nany said Prabowo’s statement was against the spirit and mandate of Law No. 40/1999 on Press because in Indonesia’s historical context, londo ireng is a pejorative term for Indonesians who worked for the Dutch colonial government.
“Accusations against the journalistic profession are baseless and not appropriate to be said by a president, we demand President Prabowo Subianto apologize to journalists for the use of londo ireng in his speech,” she said in a written statement received by The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
Speaking at the 28th anniversary of the National Awakening Party (PKB) on Thursday evening, Prabowo said his administration welcomed criticism but alleged that some Indonesians remain loyal to foreign powers.
