The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) has urged lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea to clarify remarks made to reporters at the Attorney General’s Office (AGO). It also asks that he apologize if they demeaned journalism. PWI Chairman Akhmad Munir said sources may refuse questions. They must respect journalists performing public-interest work protected under Press Law No. 40/1999.

JAKARTA, thekabarnews.com—The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) has criticized remarks lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea made to reporters at the Attorney General’s Office (AGO). PWI said they appeared to demean journalists and could undermine respect for press freedom.

The dispute followed a press conference at the AGO’s Round Building in Jakarta on Friday, July 17. Hotman was accompanying former Jampidsus Febrie Adriansyah. Authorities questioned Febrie as a suspect in an alleged corruption and money-laundering case involving state insurer Asabri.

PWI Chairman Akhmad Munir issued the organization’s response on Sunday, July 19. PWI did not reproduce the disputed remark in the statement reported publicly. It said it considered Hotman’s conduct toward journalists inappropriate.

“Everyone has the right to express an opinion, answer journalists’ questions or decline to answer them. No one has any reason to demean journalists who are performing their professional duties,” Munir said.

“Journalists work in the public interest and receive protection under the Press Law,” he added.

PWI asked Hotman to provide a public clarification and apologize to members of the press. This request was made if his remarks created the impression that he had disparaged their profession.

The organization stressed that it did not challenge an advocate’s right to defend a client. Munir said lawyers should not use that right to intimidate journalists or diminish another profession.

“We do not question any lawyer’s right to defend a client. However, that defense must continue to respect other professions,” Munir said in the statement reported by Tirto.

PWI characterized its response as an effort to maintain professional relations between lawyers and journalists. Both play important roles in Indonesia’s legal system and democracy.

“Criticizing a journalist’s question is reasonable, but the criticism must be delivered politely and professionally without degrading members of the press,” Munir added.

Indonesian law does not require every source to answer a journalist’s question. PWI itself acknowledged that people may respond or decline to comment.

Article 4 of Law No. 40 of 1999 on the Press guarantees press freedom and the right of the national press to seek, obtain and disseminate information. Article 8 states that journalists receive legal protection while performing their professional duties.

PWI also reminded journalists to work professionally, independently and accurately. They must produce balanced reports that comply with Indonesia’s Journalistic Code of Ethics.

The association did not announce legal action against Hotman. Its request concerned professional conduct, clarification and an apology rather than a finding that he had committed a criminal offense.

As of publication, reports reviewed for this article did not include a public response from Hotman to PWI’s request.