Jakarta – The Indonesian Press and Broadcasting Community (MPPI) issued a statement on Monday protesting violence against the press and journalists, which the organization said posed a threat to press freedom.

The statement was read by the chairman of the Press Council, Atmakusumah, at the office of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM). Also in attendance was Anshari Thayib, a member of the Komnas HAM team monitoring violence against journalists.

The MPPI is made up of journalist organizations such as Media Watch, the Association of Indonesian Journalists and the Alliance of Independent Journalists.

In the statement, the MPPI called on the press community to unite in opposing all acts of violence and threats, and not to allow these acts to go unanswered legally. It also urged law enforcers to take action against those threatening members of the press.

The MPPI statement was issued following last Saturday's incident in which a group of people stormed the offices of Tempo news magazine in protest of an article the magazine ran about businessman Tommy Winata.