Ahmad Taufik
Encyclopedia
Ahmad Taufik is an Indonesia
n newspaper journalist known for his articles critical of the dictatorship of President Suharto.
Taufik worked as a reporter at the magazine Tempo
until its banning by Information Minister Harmoko
of Suharto's New Order
government in 1994. This prohibition set off "nationwide demonstrations and international condemnation".
After the magazine's dissolution, Taufik joined other journalists in founding the Alliance of Independent Journalists
(AJI), a group which Suharto's government refused to recognize. He later served as the group's president.
, to publish, "you have to have a permit from the Ministry of Information... we didn't have a permit, because we don't agree with that. We refused."
On 1 September 1995, he was convicted of both charges and sentenced to a three-year prison term. The Committee to Protect Journalists
protested his arrest and that of other journalists, and named Suharto "one of 10 worst enemies of the press" on its annual list. Taufik was paroled on 19 July 1997, having served two thirds of his sentence.
Taufik spent his sentence in five different prisons: the Jakarta District Police station, Salemba Prison, Cipinang Prison, Cirebon Prison, and Kuningan Prison. While in Cipinang Prison, Taufik became close with Xanana Gusmão
, future President
of East Timor
. He was also visited by Jens Linde of the International Federation of Journalists
.
On 22 July, 1995, he received the Suardi Tasrif award of the AJI. That same year, he won the International Press Freedom Award
of the Committee to Protect Journalists. Due to his sentence, he was unable to receive the award in person until November 1997, following his release from prison. The following year he received the Digul Award.
—described as "one of Indonesia's most powerful businessmen"—in the burning of the Tanah Abang
textile market in Jakarta
, a fire from which Winata allegedly stood to profit. According to Taufik, he discovered following the fire that Winata had submitted plans for renovating the market only a few months before the fire.
On 7 March, the magazine was threatened with libel charges by Winata's lawyers; the following day, a group of over 200 protesters appeared at the Tempo offices and allegedly threatened to burn the office down, gouge Taufik's eyes out, shouted racial insults, and assaulted Taufik when he went outside to speak with them.
Winata later filed a lawsuit, naming Taufik, his editor Iskandar Ali, and editor-in-chief Bambang Harymurti
as defendants. The suit charged the three with libel, defamation, and refusing "to respect religious and moral norms". BBC News
described the case as being "widely criticised as an attack on Indonesia's press". Amnesty International
and the Committee to Protect Journalists both protested on behalf of the reporters, the former naming them potential prisoners of conscience. On 16 September 2004, Harymurti was found guilty of "defamation and false reporting" and sentenced to a year in prison, while Taufik and Ali were exonerated. The Central Jakarta Court's ruling that Tempo had to pay $55,000 USD in damages
was overturned. On 9 February 2005, Harymutri's sentence was also overturned by the Supreme Court of Indonesia
, a spokesperson for which stated, "We want to ensure that journalists are protected". Harymutri welcomed the decision as "not a personal victory but a victory for all Indonesian journalists".
and writing poetry
, which he did while imprisoned.
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n newspaper journalist known for his articles critical of the dictatorship of President Suharto.
Taufik worked as a reporter at the magazine Tempo
Tempo magazine (Indonesia)
Tempo is an Indonesian weekly magazine that covers news and politics. It was founded by Goenawan Mohamad and Yusril Djalinus and the first edition was published in March 1971.-New Order era:...
until its banning by Information Minister Harmoko
Harmoko
Harmoko is an Indonesian politician. He served as information minister in the New Order regime of President Suharto from 1983 until 1997 and chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly and People's Representative Council from 1997 until 1999.-References:* "The Editors" , The Sixth Development...
of Suharto's New Order
New Order (Indonesia)
The New Order is the term coined by former Indonesian President Suharto to characterize his regime as he came to power in 1966. Suharto used this term to contrast his rule with that of his predecessor, Sukarno...
government in 1994. This prohibition set off "nationwide demonstrations and international condemnation".
After the magazine's dissolution, Taufik joined other journalists in founding the Alliance of Independent Journalists
Alliance of Independent Journalists
The Alliance of Independent Journalists Indonesia is a body that promotes press freedom in Indonesia.The AJI was founded in 1994 by Satrio Arismunandar, Ahmad Taufik and Goenawan Mohamad, the founder and editor of Tempo magazine, in response to the banning by the Suharto government of three...
(AJI), a group which Suharto's government refused to recognize. He later served as the group's president.
Biography
Taufik graduated with a bachelor's degree in law from Bandung Islamic University. While in university he participated in some student protests against the Badega Land Case.Arrest and imprisonment
On 16 March 1995, following a series of articles in AJI's news magazine Independen on the presidential succession and Suharto's great personal wealth, Taufik was arrested. He was subsequently charged under Article 19 of the press law, which bans the publication of an unlicensed newspaper or magazine, and Article 154 of the criminal code, which forbids the publication of "feelings of hostility, hatred or contempt toward the government". As he explained to The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, to publish, "you have to have a permit from the Ministry of Information... we didn't have a permit, because we don't agree with that. We refused."
On 1 September 1995, he was convicted of both charges and sentenced to a three-year prison term. The Committee to Protect Journalists
Committee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent nonprofit organisation based in New York City that promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists.-History:A group of U.S...
protested his arrest and that of other journalists, and named Suharto "one of 10 worst enemies of the press" on its annual list. Taufik was paroled on 19 July 1997, having served two thirds of his sentence.
Taufik spent his sentence in five different prisons: the Jakarta District Police station, Salemba Prison, Cipinang Prison, Cirebon Prison, and Kuningan Prison. While in Cipinang Prison, Taufik became close with Xanana Gusmão
Xanana Gusmão
Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão GCL is a former militant who was the first President of East Timor, serving from May 2002 to May 2007...
, future President
President of East Timor
The President of East Timor is the Head of state of the East Timorese republic, elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The role is largely symbolic, though he is able to veto some legislation. Following elections, the president appoints as the prime minister, the leader of the majority party...
of East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
. He was also visited by Jens Linde of the International Federation of Journalists
International Federation of Journalists
International Federation of Journalists, IFJ, is a global union federation of journalists' trade unions—the largest in the world. The organization aims to protect and strengthen the rights and freedoms of journalists...
.
On 22 July, 1995, he received the Suardi Tasrif award of the AJI. That same year, he won the International Press Freedom Award
CPJ International Press Freedom Awards
The CPJ International Press Freedom Awards honour journalists around the world who show courage in defending press freedom in the face of attacks, threats or imprisonment. Created in 1991, the awards are administered by the Committee to Protect Journalists....
of the Committee to Protect Journalists. Due to his sentence, he was unable to receive the award in person until November 1997, following his release from prison. The following year he received the Digul Award.
Winata case
Taufik later returned to Tempo after it resumed publication. In a 3 March 2003 article that would spark numerous controversies, Taufik raised questions about the involvement of Tomy WinataTomy Winata
Tomy Winata is an Indonesian businessman who works primarily in the fields of banking and real estate. He was born the son of a spare parts trader and dropped out of school in the seventh grade to sell home-made ice pops to support his family. According to The Washington Post, he then "rose from a...
—described as "one of Indonesia's most powerful businessmen"—in the burning of the Tanah Abang
Tanah Abang
Tanah Abang is a subdistrict of Central Jakarta, Indonesia. The subdistrict hosts the biggest textile market in Southeast Asia, Tanah Abang Market...
textile market in Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, a fire from which Winata allegedly stood to profit. According to Taufik, he discovered following the fire that Winata had submitted plans for renovating the market only a few months before the fire.
On 7 March, the magazine was threatened with libel charges by Winata's lawyers; the following day, a group of over 200 protesters appeared at the Tempo offices and allegedly threatened to burn the office down, gouge Taufik's eyes out, shouted racial insults, and assaulted Taufik when he went outside to speak with them.
Winata later filed a lawsuit, naming Taufik, his editor Iskandar Ali, and editor-in-chief Bambang Harymurti
Bambang Harymurti
Bambang Harymurti , commonly referred to by his initials BHM, is a journalist and editor-in-chief of Tempo. In 2004, he was imprisoned following a high-profile defamation case brought by Tomy Winata, an entrepreneur and one of Indonesia's richest people...
as defendants. The suit charged the three with libel, defamation, and refusing "to respect religious and moral norms". BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
described the case as being "widely criticised as an attack on Indonesia's press". Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
and the Committee to Protect Journalists both protested on behalf of the reporters, the former naming them potential prisoners of conscience. On 16 September 2004, Harymurti was found guilty of "defamation and false reporting" and sentenced to a year in prison, while Taufik and Ali were exonerated. The Central Jakarta Court's ruling that Tempo had to pay $55,000 USD in damages
Damages
In law, damages is an award, typically of money, to be paid to a person as compensation for loss or injury; grammatically, it is a singular noun, not plural.- Compensatory damages :...
was overturned. On 9 February 2005, Harymutri's sentence was also overturned by the Supreme Court of Indonesia
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
, a spokesperson for which stated, "We want to ensure that journalists are protected". Harymutri welcomed the decision as "not a personal victory but a victory for all Indonesian journalists".
Personal life
Taufik is married to Syafai'liyin. He enjoys paintingPainting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and writing poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, which he did while imprisoned.