Hendry Ch Builds: PWI Honorary Council Decision Is Illegal And Illegal

JAKARTA - The chairman of the Central PWI, Hendry Ch. Bangun, strongly condemns the decision of the PWI Honorary Council (DK) which is considered illegal and illegal. The decision of DK to issue the letter of dismissal of Hendry Ch Bangun from PWI membership is considered to have no solid legal basis.

According to Hendry, DK has acted beyond its authority. "The decision is not the result of the official meeting of DK. Five members of DK do not even know this and have written to Sasongko Tedjo," explained Hendry at the Central PWI Office, Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta, Tuesday, July 16. He added that the request of the Chairman of DK to prepare an Extraordinary Congress (KLB) was also unfounded. "According to PD PRT Article 28, KLB can only be done if the General Chairperson becomes a defendant in a case that degrades the dignity of journalists and is asked by at least 2/3 the number of provinces," he said.

Based on the Decree of the Central Board of PWI Number 218-PLP/PP-PWI/2024 dated 27 June 2024, the composition of the PWI Honorary Council for the period 2023-2028 has changed. The current chairman of the Honorary Council is Sasongko Tedjo, with Mahmud Matangara as Deputy Chair and Tatang Suherman as Secretary. The other members are Diapari Sibatangkayu, Akhmad Munir, Fathurrahman, M. Noeh Hatumena, Hendro Basuki, and Berman Nainggolan.

With these changes, Nurcholis no longer serves as Secretary of DK. "Nurcholis no longer has a legal standing to act on behalf of DK. Therefore, the decree issued is null and void," said Hendry Ch Bangun. Furthermore, Hendry said that all decisions of DK could only be taken by meetings attended by the Chair, Deputy Chair, and Member of DK according to PWI Decree Number 218-PLP/PP-PWI/2024.

Hendry Ch. Bangun also highlighted DK's request to the Head of the Organizational Sector to immediately carry out the KLB as an inconsequential act. "The authorities ordered the Chair of the Organization Division only the General Chair," he said.

According to Hendry, Sasongko Tedjo's actions in holding the DK meeting without following the regulation had no legal basis. "This action does not have binding legal force," he said. Sasongko Tedjo is also considered to have abused the letterhead and DK stamp without the legal signature of the Secretary, thus a violation of the law with criminal implications.

On this basis, the PWI Central Board gave the first and final warning to Sasongko Tedjo not to use DK's attributes and names since the enactment of the change. Sasongko was also given three days to apologize to the General Chairperson of the Central PWI and withdraw the statement he issued in the release. "If this warning is not heeded, we will undergo legal proceedings," said Hendry Ch Bangun.

Previously, a letter from the Honorary Council (DK) of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) was spread to decide to dismiss Hendry Ch. Build from PWI membership. This decision was stipulated through the Decree of the Central PWI Honorary Council Number: 50/VII/DK/PWI-P/SK-SR/2024. Hendry, who currently serves as Chairman of the Central PWI, is considered by DK to have committed serious violations of organizational regulations.