Authoritarians knocking at the gate in Jakarta

[dArKeR]

On Sept. 16, judges at Indonesia's Central Jakarta Court sentenced me to one year in prison. As the editor-in-chief of Tempo Weekly news magazine, I am guilty, according to the court, of defaming a business tycoon named Tomy Winata by implying his possible involvement in a fire at Jakarta's South-East Asia textile market, and of fomenting riots by disseminating lies. Does my case, and others like it, portend the end of yet another short-lived experiment with democracy in Indonesia?

The "riot" that I allegedly fomented occurred in March last year, when almost 200 thugs claiming to be Winata's followers attacked Tempo's office, threatened to burn down the building, harassed staff and injured one reporter. Trying to help resolve the situation peacefully, I was persuaded to negotiate at the Central Jakarta Police Station, but found to my horror that the mob leaders controlled the station. I was punched and kicked as the police looked the other way.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/09/27/2003204600