Good News
Ahmad Ibrahim Didi©Private
Bambang Harymurti Release!
Bambang Harymurti, chief editor of Tempo magazine, one of Indonesia's most respected weekly news magazines, was found not guilty from all charges by the Supreme Court on 9 February 2006.
On 16 September 2004, Bambang Harymurty had been sentenced to one year in prison for criminal defamation and for publishing false material which could lead to public unrest. His release is a positive sign for freedom of expression in Indonesia.
The charges centred around an article that appeared in Tempo's 3 March 2003 edition. Bambang questioned if Tommy Winata, one of Indonesia’s most powerful businessmen, who stood to profit from a fire that had destroyed part of the Tanah Abang textile market in Jakarta should be held responsible for the fire. The same article included a statement from Tommy Winata denying the allegation.
Unlike the lower courts, which tried and convicted Bambang using Criminal law, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Bagir Manan, applied the Press Law to release him.
The passing of the Press Law in 1999 was welcomed by media groups as a positive effort to regulate the media while simultaneously protecting the fundamental right to freedom of expression and opinion and the public’s right to know. However many cases involving the media are still being tried under restrictive legislation that facilitates the criminalization of defamation.
Amnesty International is concerned that the imposition of criminal sanctions and excessive fines might lead to much greater caution and self censorship for the media in their reports about influential figures which will, in turn, negatively impact upon the public’s right to know and the facilitation of open debate on issues of public interest.
Permanent
Maldives: Release of artist and internet dissident
Prisoners of conscience Ahmad Ibrahim Didi, internet reporter, and Naushad Waheed, an artist and cartoonist, were released in February 2006 after four years imprisonment in the Maldives.
"Ahmad Ibrahim Didi and Naushad Waheed were tried in grossly unfair trials simply for expressing their peaceful opinions," said Abbas Faiz, South Asia researcher at Amnesty International. "Their release today is welcome but long overdue."