Indonesian censorship laws ‘blocks discussions on impunity’

March 17th, 2010

The Asian Human Rights Commission yesterday condemned the Indonesian governments ban of books and films under the guise of maintaining “public order” and “state unity”. The banned material covers subjects including the 30 September Movement and the conflict in  East Timor.

Indonesia bans “Balibo Five” film

December 2nd, 2009

Indonesia’s censorship board has banned an Australian-made film about the alleged murder five journalists by Indonesian troops during the 1975 invasion of East Timor. The ruling came just hours before a planned premiere screening of Balibo was due to take place forcing organisers to cancel. Jakarta maintains they were killed accidentally in cross-fire however in 2007 an Australian coroner concluded that the journalists had been executed. A sixth Australian journalist was killed in Dili shortly afterwards while investigating the deaths. Read more here

Indonesia: Logging company detains television journalists

July 15th, 2009

On 10 July, an Indonesian logging company detained three members of a French television news crew in Jambi province, Sumatra. Ciryl Payen, the Southeast Asia bureau chief for the France 24 television station, Gilaume Martin and Dewi Arilaha were apprehended by security officers from PT Lontar Papirup Pulp and Papers, while they were filming trucks loaded with logs parked at the company’s premises in Tebing Tinggi. The company’s head of security, Eriyanto, also seized their video tapes. The three journalists were then taken to the local police station. The police, however, could not think of an appropriate charge to file against them. Despite this, Eriyanto continued to detain them, saying they took video footage of the company’s property without seeking permission.Read more here

Jakarta libel case ruling “a win for free speech”

July 1st, 2009

The Jakarta press council have welcomed the Jakarta High Court’s decision to overturn a guilty verdict imposed on a kiosk owner who had been convicted of libel for having written a complaint letter about a property company. Press council member Abdullah Alamudi said that the council was pleased the court had supported freedom of speech. Read more here

Indonesia: victory as Time magazine Suharto libel ruling overturned

April 16th, 2009

The Supreme Court of Indonesia has overturned a £62 million libel ruling against Time magazine relating to claims that the late President Suharto had amassed a fortune through corruption. Index on Censorship and other media organisations and NGOs made representations in what was seen as a crucial free expression case. Read more here

Indonesia: reporters arrested

April 1st, 2009

Four Dutch journalists were detained whilst covering a demonstration in the eastern province of Papua. (more…)