TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bandar Lampung mayor candidate Maruly Hendra Utama filed a police report against Tempo for slanderous article entitled “Kriminalisasi KPK” (KPK Criminalization) published on its weekly magazine edition July 13-19, 2015.
In response to the report, Tempo Magazine’s chief editor Arif Zulkifli said that he appreciated Maruly’s act. However, Arif suggested, that cases related to media publication should be settled with a mediation facilitated by the Press Council.
“Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Press Council and the National Police in 2012, a dispute related to press must be settled with the Press Council,” Arif said on Saturday, July 11, 2015.
Arif admitted that he had not planned any move to respond the police report.
Article 3 paragraph 1 of the MoU states that Police shall conduct investigation into cases related to press upon Press Council’s recommendation. Arif said that the Press Council serves a function to review whether the reported news violates the Journalists’ Code of Ethics.
Maruly charged Tempo’s chief editor and journalists with Article 310 paragraph 2, Article 311, and Article 390 of the Criminal Code.
“The news has formed an opinion that Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) is an anti-corruption eradication and anti-KPK party,” Maruly said.
Tempo published an article about KPK criminalization allegedly committed by PDIP politicians. The article contains a transcript of conversation between PDIP secretary general Hasto Kristiyanto and PDIP legal division member Arteria Dahlan, Yogyakarta Police General Crime director Sr. Comr. Karyoto, and former BIN chief A.M. Hendropriyono.
Arif ensured that the article published by Tempo has been thoroughly verified and is a work of professional journalism that complies with the code of ethics.
NINIS CHAIRUNNISA | PUTRI ADITYOWATI