Threatening Press Freedom, Members Of The House Of Representatives Ask For The Terror Of Pig Heads To The Tempo Office To Be Completely Investigated

JAKARTA Member of Commission I DPR Syamsu Rizal also responded to the terror of the pig's head and the carcass of the rat sent to the Tempo editorial office. Syamsu Rizal assessed that this action was a form of terror against press freedom in the country which had to be thoroughly investigated.

"Terror against the Tempo editor threatens press independence. In fact, protection for the practice of working in the press must receive legal protection because it is in accordance with the Press Law," said Syamsu Rizal, Monday, March 24.

According to Syamsu Rizal, the media should have the freedom to seek information and disseminate ideas and information through journalistic works. "If there is such terror, it means that there are efforts by certain individuals who want to hinder press work. This is what must be fought," he said.

The man who is familiarly called Deng Ical said that the shipment of pigs' heads and rat carcasses was aimed at triggering fear of Tempo editors who had often spoken critically against power. In fact, according to him, these critical voices are still valid as long as they have gone through the journalistic rules regulated in the Press Law.

"We need public critical voices as a balancer of various government policies so that democratic life continues to run well," he said.

Syamsu Rizal emphasized that based on Article 8 of Law No. 40 of 1999 concerning the Press of the profession, journalists must receive legal protection in carrying out their rights and functions conveying the facts of the truth. This means, he said, during journalistic coverage carried out by Tempo editors, there was no false news and slander that the state obliged to protect it, including from acts of terror in any form.

"This legal protection means that there is a guarantee of government protection and/or the public to journalists in carrying out their functions, rights, obligations and roles in accordance with the provisions of the applicable laws and regulations," he said.

As previously reported, the Tempo editor was terrorized by the delivery of a pig's head and rat carcass in the office yard. Initially, the Tempo Editor received a shipment of cardboard containing a pig's head on Wednesday, March 19.

The terror didn't stop once. Two days later, on Saturday, March 22, Tempo editor received a cardboard shipment containing six rat carcasses wrapped in gift paper with red rose flowers.

Until now, the Investigation Team of the Directorate of General Crimes (Dittipidum) of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police is still hunting for suspected perpetrators of terror sending pig heads and rat carcasses by examining the CCTV footage of the Tempo Building, as well as checking the location for the delivery of pieces of pig heads and rat carcasses at the Tempo office on Jalan Palmerah Barat, Grogol Utara, Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta. The investigation team has also heard statements from a number of witnesses at the location.

Syamsu Rizal explained that this terror is not only a threat to the press but also a threat to the public to get quality, independent and reliable news.

"We ask the police to investigate quickly and precisely who was the mastermind behind the terror that was received by Tempo editors. This attempt to obstruct journalistic work has received a maximum imprisonment of two years or a maximum fine of Rp. 500 million," he said.

Syamsu Rizal also asked the Press Council to be involved in investigating the terror case experienced by the Tempo Editor by deploying an anti-Violence Task Force. The Press Council, according to him, must carry out its function, namely to provide protection of press freedom from interference from other parties.

Publik harus tahu apa yang sebenarnya terjadi. Jangan sampai ini menjadi preseden buruk yang menyebabkan pers bekerja dalam ancaman tanpa ada perlindungan," katanya.

"The investigation of this case is proof of whether the state is able to provide protection to the press or the state is unable to provide protection to the press," concluded Syamsu Rizal.