Makassar, South Sulawesi – Around 50 journalists staged a rally Thursday in front of the South Sulawesi Provincial Police headquarters over a police decision to name a reporter as a suspect in a defamation case against provincial police chief Insp. Gen. Sisno Adiwinoto.

The police named Jupriadi, alias Upi Asmaradana, coordinator of the Journalist Coalition Against Press Criminalization, as a suspect after Sisno filed a report against him.

Upi was questioned by detectives for over six hours Thursday, while the rally took place outside.

Sisno, previously the National Police chief spokesman, accused Upi of defaming him in news articles challenging a recent statement made by Sisno in August.

Sisno granted parties accusing news publishers of slander to directly file police reports instead of requesting a right to respond to the allegations as formally took place.

The coalition believes the changes are a threat to press freedom and a form of press criminalization. Led by Upi, the coalition have staged various rallies and filed reports to the National Police Commission, Press Council, and the Press Legal Aid Institute.