Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Dozens of journalists held a protest in front of the High Court of Central Sulawesi, in Kota Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, on Sunday, November 16, 2025. They protested the civil lawsuit filed by Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman against Tempo.
The protest was joined by several press organizations and civil society groups under the Central Sulawesi Journalist Safety Committee (KKJ). They demanded that the panel of judges at the South Jakarta District Court, where Amran filed the lawsuit, reject the case.
Agung Sumandjaya, the chairman of the Independent Journalist Alliance (AJI) Palu and one of the protest participants, stated that this case would set a legal precedent for other media. "If the lawsuit is accepted, it will set a legal precedent for other state officials to do the same," he said in a written statement on Sunday.
The protest coordinator, Muhajir, mentioned that disputes over news coverage should be resolved through the mechanism set in Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press. Muhajir stated that there are two mechanisms for resolving press disputes: the right of reply or correction, and mediation at the Press Council.
He believed that Amran's decision to take Tempo to court shows a misunderstanding of the position of the press as regulated by the law. "Bringing a case to the general court is a form of silencing through legal channels," he said.
The lawsuit amounting to Rp 200 billion is seen as an attempt to silence and bankrupt the media. 'This lawsuit not only threatens Tempo as a media institution but is also dangerous for press freedom in general,' said Muhajir.
Muhajir stated that the lawsuit with a demand for Rp200 billion in damages is unreasonable and legally unjustifiable. Muhajir pointed out that this case should serve as a lesson for public officials and government institutions in understanding the mechanisms for resolving press disputes.
Therefore, Muhajir stated that journalists from the Central Sulawesi KKJ support Tempo and all other media in carrying out their social control functions. They reject all forms of intimidation and criminalization of journalists and activists carrying out public duties.
They also urged the government and law enforcement to respect the mechanism for resolving press disputes through the Press Council. 'We demand the cessation of all legal efforts that threaten press freedom in Indonesia,' he said.
Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman filed a civil lawsuit against Tempo for Rp200 billion. He accused Tempo of unlawful conduct for not adhering to the Press Council's statement of assessment and recommendation (PPR) regarding the cover story dispute 'Rotten Rice Cover-Up.' Read the full chronology here.