National Police Chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri has denied his officers are corrupt nor involved with attacks on Tempo Magazine's offices, or a brutal attack on anti-corruption campaigner, Tama Satrya Langkun. (Photo courtesy of Jakarta Globe.)

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By PMC Newsdesk.

Update: IFJ Commends resolution in Indonesia Police/Tempo dispute.

Indonesia’s National Police has issued criminal defamation charges against Tempo Magazine after the publication of a major investigation alleging some of the nation’s top police officers were corrupt.

Tempo’s July 28 cover story revealed several top police officers had amassed great wealth. The magazine cited evidence showing their private bank accounts contained millions of dollars. It questioned how this could be so on Police salaries.

Despite the Police and Tempo holding a press conference last week (See Jakarta Globe’s report) agreeing to settle their differences amicably, the Independent Federation of Journalists stated on Monday July 12 that Indonesia’s Police have actually issued defamation proceedings against the publication.

The National Police had threatened to sue Tempo after stating the magazine’s cover was offensive. Tempo had published a special investigation stating several top police officers were corrupt and had received significant wealth totaling millions through illegal means.

Days after Tempo published its investigation, its offices in Jakarta were attacked when two individuals tossed molotov cocktails at the building. (See Pacific Scoop’s breaking news report.)

On July 8, Indonesia’s Corruption Watch investigator, Tama Satrya Langkun, was brutally attacked.

The attack led to Indonesia’s president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, calling for an investigation into the violence. The Jakarta Globe reported Yudhoyono as stating: “I want it to be found out on who did it and with what motive.”

President Yudhoyono visited Tama in hospital over the weekend.

The Jakarta Globe reported that Tama had featured prominently in an ICW investigation into millions of dollars stashed in the bank accounts of a number of police generals, while Tempo named the generals in question.

And on Sunday, Constitutional Court Chairman Mahfud MD, told the Jakarta Globe: “The motive of the attack is resentment against the corruption eradication efforts. However, the incident must not make us too afraid to continue the fight against corruption.”

The National Police denied they were involved with either the bombings or the attack on Tama.

Regarding Tempo Magazine’s investigation, Indonesia’s top cop said Police his own investigators had cleared 21 dubious financial transactions that were identified by an anti-corruption centre. Police were angered by the Tempo cover that illustrated the issue with a police officer with a pig on a leash. The reference to a pig was particularly offensive to Indonesia’s Islam culture. Tempo said the caricatures of pigs were actually depicting piggy-banks.

The Jakarta Globe reported on July 1, that National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri as stating: “We’re not against criticism being directed at us. We just want some motivation and support rather than criticism.”

The National Police then moved to issue criminal defamation proceedings against Tempo and its journalists. That move was criticised by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

The IFJ stated that due to the Police being investigated by the fourth estate, with corruption allegations being leveled at Police, there appears to be a conflict of interest when the Police retaliate with a defamation writ.

In a statement issued on July 12, the IFJ said: Articles 207 and 208 of Indonesia’s Criminal Code cover criminal defamation and are well-known as a legal tactic used to attempt to muzzle the press in Indonesia.

IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said: “The IFJ is concerned that the charges filed by the police, now in the hands of the Police Criminal Unit, constitute a conflict of interest, as there is little guarantee of impartiality in the handling of the case.”

• See also: (KiwiFM Audio): Wallace Chapman & Selwyn Manning Discuss Indonesia Police Corruption.

The International Federation Of Journalists (IFJ)’s statement follows:

IFJ Demands Withdrawal of Defamation Case Against Indonesia’s Tempo

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate,
the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), in demanding the
withdrawal of criminal defamation charges against Tempo magazine.

The charges relate to Tempo’s June 28 cover story, entitled “Fat Bank
Accounts of Police Officers”, on alleged suspicious bank accounts held
by several high-ranking police officers.

The issue featured an illustration showing a uniformed policeman with
piggy banks. The caricature prompted Indonesia’s police headquarters to
file criminal defamation charges against Tempo with the Police Criminal
Unit, an institution under the authority of the national police.

Articles 207 and 208 of Indonesia’s Criminal Code cover criminal
defamation and are well-known as a legal tactic used to attempt to
muzzle the press in Indonesia.

“The IFJ is concerned that the charges filed by the police, now in the
hands of the Police Criminal Unit, constitute a conflict of interest, as
there is little guarantee of impartiality in the handling of the case,”
IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

“The IFJ joins AJI in strongly recommending that Indonesia’s police
headquarters would be better served by pursuing procedures stipulated
under Press Law No. 40/1999, which allows for right of reply or to file
a complaint with the Indonesian Press Council.”