JAKARTA - The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) Central reported lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea to the Integrated Police Service Center (SPKT) of the Metro Jaya Police for allegedly insulting the profession of journalists. The report is related to Hotman Paris' statement in a video that went viral on social media and was considered to be degrading the press.
PWI Center Director for Anti-Violence against Journalists Edison Siahaan said the report was made because Hotman Paris's speech was considered to have hurt the feelings of journalists and injured the honor of the journalist profession.
"Yesterday there was an incident that actually hurt the heart and offended the profession of journalists. For this reason, we from the PWI Center want to report the person who said the journalist 'has no brain'. In fact, as we know, journalists are smart," said Edison in his statement, Tuesday, July 21.
According to Edison, although Hotman Paris is rumored to have made a public apology, PWI considers the apology to have not reflected sincerity.
"Judging the reported apology is only a formality, and it does not come from a deep honest intention," he said.
In its report, PWI also handed over a video recording containing Hotman Paris' statement to investigators as evidence. The report was received by the Polda Metro Jaya with the number LP/B/5291/VII/2026/SPKT Polda Metro Jaya on Monday (20/7/2026).
"PWI also states that this report will be fully supported by various press organizations and other national press community," said Edison.
This case was reported with the assumption of Article 242 of Law Number 1 of 2023. In addition to PWI, the Indonesian Senior Journalists Association (SWSI) also asked Hotman Paris to apologize and clarify to the public as a form of respect for the journalistic profession.
In its official statement, SWSI emphasized that press freedom and journalists' right to ask questions are an inseparable part of the implementation of Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Editors' Forum (Forum Pemred) also regretted Hotman Paris' statement at a press conference at the Attorney General's Office related to his client's case, former Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) Febrie Adriansyah.
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