TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Press Council regrets the intimidation by the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) against Tempo during a rally at Tempo Building on Friday, March 16.
FPI protested the caricature on Tempo Magazine that showed a white-robed man as their high cleric, Rizieq Shihab, facing a woman while sitting down.
Chairman of the Press Council, Yosep Stanley Adi Prasetyo, said there should be no intimidation.
Read also: Tempo Caricature: AJI Denounces Rally by FPI at Tempo Office
SETARA Institute also criticized the FPI's actions. SETARA Institute Deputy Chairman Bonar Tigor Naipospos said the demonstration was clearly an intimidation towards the press as the fourth pillar of democracy.
The following FPI actions are considered to intimidate Tempo:
1. The FPI's actions to mobilize the mob physically because the work and journalistic products contained by the mass media, according to Bonar, are physical and psychological attacks on the media.
2. The mass pressure, according to Stanley, can hamper the process of editorial work. Intimidation can disturb the public's right to get information.
3. While discussing with the chief editor of Tempo Magazine, there were FPI members who banged the table and threw the glasses of mineral water into the middle of the discussion table between FPI and the chief editor of Tempo.
4. Intimidation also occurred when Tempo Editor in Chief Arif Zulkifli was asked to come out to apologize to the FPI masses outside the Tempo building. When Arif gave an explanation on the top of the command car, someone who used a jungle cap and a green shirt, took Arif's glasses and threw it to the mobs around the car.
5. FPI members under the command car threw glasses of mineral water towards Arif Zulkifli, who was still on the top of the car.
“On the top of the command car, they forced me to apologize, someone grabbed my glasses from my face and threw it into the masses, wearing a jungle hat and a green jacket, I do not know who he is," Azul said.
IMAM HAMDI
