Jakarta and Mataram. Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Bagir Manan has agreed to testify for Erwin Arnada, the former editor of Playboy Indonesia who on Tuesday officially filed for a review of his indecency conviction.
Todung Mulya Lubis, who represents Erwin, said Bagir, who currently chairs the Press Council, would testify that the former editor should have been tried under the Press Law instead of the Criminal Code.
“During his tenure [as chief justice], many court cases involving the media were tried under the Press Law. He has confirmed his willingness to testify,” Todung said on Tuesday
Erwin began serving a two-year jail term on Saturday, based on a Supreme Court decision that overturned his 2007 acquittal by the South Jakarta District Court.
The lower court said the magazine, which contained no nudity, had met all regulations on media publications and had been sold in sealed plastic covers, as required for adult magazines.
Todung said the case review was requested because of a “fundamental error” by the Supreme Court judges, who based their decision on Article 282 of the Criminal Code.
“For me, what matters most is not the two-year prison sentence or the existence of Playboy [in Indonesia], but the future of press freedom,” he said.
“This could be endangered because of censorship, with people afraid of covering news stories.”
Todung said that during the case review he would present a witness from Playboy Publishing Group, which publishes the magazine in the United States and internationally, to discuss how the Indonesian version was far milder than in other countries.
Separately, Agus Sudibyo, a Press Council member, said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had agreed to meet media representatives to discuss press freedom issues, including what is seen a growing violence against journalists.
“We received an informal confirmation from the palace on Tuesday morning but there is no definite date yet,” Agus said.
He added that the Press Council had sent the president a letter requesting that Erwin’s sentence be suspended.
“We fully support Erwin’s request for a case review, and this is not just advocacy for Erwin, but for the values of press freedom in general,” he said.
In Mataram, West Nusa Tengarra, Bagir said he was surprised by criticism of the Press Council over Erwin’s case, with some accusing it of protecting those involved in the dissemination of pornographic material.
“We were even labeled the Pornographic Council. But this is not about pornography, but about upholding the law. The Press Law has been neglected in this case,” he said.
“It is my hope that editorial boards across Indonesia issue a statement of solidarity with Erwin, and protest all acts that are against the Press Law.”
(source:thejakartaglobe.com)
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