A Series Of Denials When Edy Mulyadi Tried To Take Refuge In The Press Law

Edy Mulyadi's attorney, Herman Kadir/Photo: VOI

JAKARTA - It is reported that Edy Mulyadi is hiding behind the Press Law. Because, Edy claimed that his controversial statement came out while serving as a senior journalist.

The statement was delivered by his lawyer, Herman Kadir. In fact, Bareskrim was asked to enact the Press Law.

"Remember, Mr. Edy is a senior journalist. It means that the summons he spoke was as a senior journalist, not under what name. That means, we also want the Press Law to be enacted,” said the team of lawyers Edy Mulyadi Herman Kadir at the Criminal Investigation Unit at the National Police Headquarters, Friday, January 28.

Herman Kadir then explained the rules for summoning journalists, which he said had to go through the Press Council. Because Edy Mulyadi was called a lawyer at that time talking about Kalimantan as the location of the new state capital in his capacity as a press person.

"The press code of ethics is there, if he violates it, go ahead. This means that in the legal procedure, there is already cooperation between the police and PWI. This means that it is clear somewhere, if it is what it is, it will be resolved first through the Press Council," he continued.

This request has resulted in rejection from several parties. This is because the context of Edy Mulyadi's statement is considered not to be a journalistic work.

Doubtful Press Council

Deputy Chairman of the Press Council Hendry Ch Bangun doubted that Edy Mulyadi's statement on social media was a journalistic product. So, it needs to be analyzed further.

“Because he speaks for himself, makes his own statement. So, where is his journalistic work? This deserves to be researched but I myself doubt that from that point of view, this is a journalistic work, but of course, the opinion of the press experts will judge it," said Hendry.

Hendry also compared it with the Podcast case of Deddy Corbuzier who interviewed former Minister of Health Siti Fadilah. Hendry explained that the video, which had gone viral and was allegedly illegal, could be said to be a journalistic work because of Deddy's position as an interviewer.

"Because of Deddy's position as an interviewer, the appearance of the podcast is a journalistic work," he said.

Regarding the case of Edy Mulyadi, who was asked to be processed as a journalist by the press council, until now Hendry admitted that he had not received any reports from the person concerned or his attorney.

IPW Denies

Meanwhile, the Head of Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) Sugeng Teguh Santoso assessed that Edy Mulyadi's statement that said that Kalimantan was a place for genies to dispose of children was not a journalistic product. The case of alleged hate speech involving Edy Mulyadi can be processed in a general criminal manner.

"Edy Mulyadi when he talked about the place where 'jinns throw children' and 'tigers become meow' are personal statements, not journalistic products. So they are not protected by the Press Law even though Edy Mulyadi claims to be a journalist," said Sugeng.

According to Sugeng, the protection of the press or journalists as regulated in the Press Law Number 40 of 1999 applies to journalistic products that have passed the editorial process. Of course, there is filtering of information according to journalistic rules.

"His actions can be held accountable for general criminal articles 310 or 311 of the Criminal Code or specifically Article 27 (3) and Article 28 (2) of the ITE Law," said Sugeng.

Therefore, Sugeng encouraged the National Police to continue to thoroughly investigate cases of alleged hate speech. Thus, this case can provide legal certainty to all parties.

"IPW supports the police in the process of this public complaint and it is submitted to the court for legal certainty for all parties," said Sugeng.