The Wire

Three Indonesian journalists are facing up to two years in jail over a defamation case, involving an article they wrote about businessman, Tomy Winata, in March 2003. The article, published in Indonesia’s biggest-selling weekly news magazine, Tempo, alleged that Winata had stood to benefit from a fire in a textile market. The International Federation of Journalists has launched a global campaign, including writing to Indonesian President, Megawati Sukarnoputri, to demand changes to what they call draconian Indonesian defamation laws. Cassandra Hill spoke to Sydney barrister, Jim Nolan, who is one of two international legal observers working on the case, and Christopher Warren, President of the International Federation of Journalists. The verdict on the Indonesian journalists’ case is due to be handed down next Monday.

International Federation of Journalists