Yemris Fointuna, Kupang – Rote Ndao regent Leonard Haning has banned three local journalists from the regency following the publication of "biased and imbalanced news articles".
The articles, which were published on Aug. 12 in the Erende Pos local daily, titled "Rote Ndao administration believed to have lied to the Supreme Audit Agency [BPK]" and "Rote Ndao regent deemed inconsistent and in breach of law".
Another report in the same paper on Aug. 10 that was accused of defaming the regent was titled "Rote Ndao administration sabotages national seminar".
Haning wrote in an official letter on Aug. 20 that the three articles published in the local daily were biased and provocative. He said the articles printed in the Erende Pos and written by Liberanus Mami and Frits Faot did not employ principles of justice or equality at the expense of the administration.
"The journalists did not ask for confirmation or response from the administration and published the articles based on one source," Haning said in his official letter.
According to Haning, the reports show that the reporters were unprofessional because they had not covered both sides of the story and had not gone through the process of checks and balances.
"The report was not in line with the Press Council Mandate on the journalistic code of ethics," he said.
Haning added that he would not acknowledge the three journalists working in Rote Ndao regency – Liberanus Mami, Frits Faot and Endang Sidin. "I don't acknowledge their presence in Rote Ndao in any capacity," Haning said in his letter.
Separately, Erende Pos managing editor Eras Poke said that before publishing the three articles in question, the daily had repeatedly requested confirmation, but the regent was not willing to be interviewed.
"We understand newsworthy reports, and [the reporters] had gone through checks and balances, but the regent was unwilling to be interviewed. The ban on the three journalists working in Rote Ndao indicates that there is something irregular in the regency," Eras said.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Kupang chapter of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) expressed regret over the regent's decision, which it deemed as very one-sided and in violation of the Law on The Press.
The AJI said the regent's ban against the journalists was part of his effort to stifle freedom of the press in the regency.
House of Representatives legislator from Rote Ndao Sarah Leri Mboeik said the regent had violated the people's right to public information.