Journalist Group Reminds Authority on Confidentiality
Friday, 20 November, 2009 | 20:23 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Alliance of Independent Journalists has continued its response to the police inquiry into media reporting on the conspiracy talk against the Corruption Eradication Commission.

The journalist club affiliated with the International Federation of Journalists reminded the police and media on Friday, that the Law No.40 of 1999 on Press provides legal basis for journalists to conceal their source of report from the public or authority and the right to excuse themselves from police inquiry on journalistic reports.

In a release from the group chairman Nezar Patria wrote “the right is important so that journalists will no be used to ensnare anyone.”

The group said journalists need to keep the public trust by keeping information that would endanger certain people and excuse themself from court order to become witness for a case, as journalist bound by the ethic could not provide the plain truth to the court.

The condition could be overturned however by judges in case of public order or state security are at stake.

Police summoned on Thursday the leading Indonesian newspaper Kompas and another newspaper affiliated with the oldest private TV station RCTI, for publishing the transcripts of conspiracy talks between businessman of a a company implicated in a corruption case with several law enforcement officials.

None of the people involved in the conspiracy talks were charged to date, while the fabricated case against two investigators with the Corruption Eradication Commisssion continues.

TITO SIANIPAR