TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Press Council is aiming to conclude eight murder and violence cases against journalists before World Press Freedom Day next year.
“We will push for the conclusion of the issue, Indonesia’s credibility as the host of World Press Freedom Day is on the line if it has not been resolved,” said Press Council Chairman of 2016-2019 period Yosep Adi Prasetyo in Jakarta on Sunday, April 10, 2016.
To resolve the cases, they will request for a hearing with the National Police chief and his agency. “We will also coordinate with the Foreign Ministry and Communication and Informatics Ministry to discuss the problem,” he said.
According to him, UNESCO continues to question the unresolved murder cases of eight journalists. One of which is the murder of Bernas Yogyakarta daily newspaper journalist, Fuad Muhammad Syafrudin alias Udin in 1996. “Many years has elapsed but the murderer has yet to be caught, if they [authorities] have given up, just say it, so the people could just accepted it,” he said.
Yosep said that violence cases against journalists continue to happen, hence the Press Council wishes to extend the memorandum of understanding with the National Police to curtail the issue. In addition, the Press Council will also explore the possibility of establishing a memorandum of understanding with the National Armed Force. On the memorandum of understanding, he said that the Press Council is currently reviewing its content.
