TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) urged police to hunt the perpetrator who spread the hoax related to Tempo Magazine`s cover story of Newmont Nusa Tenggara`s divestment.
AJI Indonesia requested the police to provide protection for the individuals that had their identities used as speakers in the fake public discussion about the divestment.
“Police should provide complete protection for the families from groups of people that might be provoked by the fake discussion invitation,” said Abdul Manan, Head of AJI in a written statement on Thursday, September 20.
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The fake invitation made it seem as if AJI Mataram will hold a discussion entitled ‘ Tuan Guru Bajang and the Divestment of a Gold Mine’ that is set to be held later tonight. The fake invitation also used an image of a Tempo journalist and the AJI Mataram Chairman.
Following this issue, AJI Mataram confirmed that they never issued an invitation. According to Abdul Manan, AJI suspects that the fake invitation letter was spread by a certain group to discredit another group in the midst of the controversy sparked by Tempo's reporting about Tuan Guru Bajang (TGB) M Zainul Majdi.
“It can be seen by an indicated persecution attempt against Tempo journalists based on the report received by AJI Indonesia,” said Abdul Manan.
Ryan Dwiky Anggriawan