Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Support for Tempo flows amidst a civil lawsuit filed by Indonesian Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman. Several press alliances and journalists have held a solidarity action in support of Tempo and press freedom in Indonesia.
For example, in Southeast Sulawesi, a solidarity action to be held on Thursday, November 6, 2025, is enlivened by several media organizations such as the Kendari Independent Journalist Alliance, the Kendari Journalist Safety Committee, journalists, the Sulawesi Tenggara Kamisan Action, and student press.
"Fight against the lawsuit of Minister Amran, reject the new censorship style," read a call for the solidarity action on a poster seen by Tempo on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
This civil society group brought three demands in the solidarity action for Tempo. First, to urge the withdrawal of the lawsuit against Tempo and for the court to respect the authority of the Press Council in accordance with applicable regulations.
The second demand is to push for legal protection and guarantees of press freedom for all media and journalists. Third, urge public officials and law enforcement not to abuse their power to suppress and silence the media.
Elsewhere, the North Sumatra Journalist Safety Committee also held a solidarity action for Tempo against the lawsuit by Minister Amran. This organization invited all journalists in North Sumatra to attend the action against censorship on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
"Solidarity to support Tempo and press freedom. North Sumatra journalists oppose media suppression," read the call for the solidarity action on the poster.
Solidarity actions for Tempo, which is sued by Minister Amran, have already taken place in various regions. For example, in South Sulawesi, Makassar. The South Sulawesi Journalist Advocacy Coalition demonstrated in front of the AAS Building owned by Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman located on Jalan Urip Sumoharjo, Makassar on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
They protested the civil lawsuit filed by Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman against the media. Chairman of the Makassar Independent Journalist Alliance (AJI) Didit Hariyadi revealed that the rally had been marked by acts of violence.
"One friend was hit on the head from above while putting up flowers," Didit said on Tuesday evening, November 4, 2025.
Didit said that the assailant was from another group of masses present at the location. According to Didit, these people brought a counter-narrative to the demands brought by the journalists' masses.
In addition to the assault, the mass group also attempted to provoke unrest by inciting the emotions of the journalists. "They tried to enter our ranks to cause chaos, but we prevented it. There was some pushing and shoving," Didit said.
According to Didit, the group had been guarding the location long before the journalists' masses arrived. "They knew we were going to rally so they came to the location first," Didit said.
Didit stated that they had no knowledge of the individuals who tried to cause the unrest. The mass group claiming to represent farmers supported the lawsuit filed by Amran against Tempo.
The Tempo lawsuit matter
The lawsuit filed by Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman against Tempo is registered under case number 684/Pdt.G/2025/PN JKT SEL. He believes that the defendant has committed unlawful acts against the plaintiff. As a result, the Ministry of Agriculture has suffered both material and immaterial losses.
Tempo's legal counsel, Mustafa Layong, stated that the case began when Amran questioned a Tempo news poster regarding the ministry's rice management policy titled "Rotten Rice Polish". One of the issues raised by the Agriculture Minister was the word "rotten" in the title of the news poster.
The legal representative of the Ministry of Agriculture, Chandra Muliawan, did not provide an explanation for his client's lawsuit. He claimed that the process concerning Tempo's journalistic products had been submitted to the Press Council and a decision had been made.
"As for the rest, maybe we can see from the trial's progress because that's the crux of the matter," Chandra said at the South Jakarta District Court on Monday, October 20, 2025. He urged the public to look for further developments through official releases from the Ministry of Agriculture's Public Relations and Communication Bureau.
– Vedro Imanuel and Amelia Rahima contributed to the writing of this article.