Criminal For Two French journalist Activity Forms Criminalization of Journalism

Legal Counsel two journalists from France, Aristo Pangaribuan, the plea or plea memorandum that was read on Thursday (October/23/2014) afternoon, after the public prosecutor read out the demands, said the arrest of the two defendants to prove the journalists criminalized by the state.

  "After reading the indictment and prosecution, we want to convey that the articles such elements is not met, and this is part of the criminalization of journalistic activities in Papua," said Aristo, when interviewed by reporters.

 Aristo said, the testimony of the expert witness actual Press Council has dismissed the statement of the Foreign Ministry, which states that the second defendant journalistic activities in Papua so captured.

 "That the Council of the Press have to say, if a person is said to cover journalistic activities, collect, search, and publish, while the second defendant was planning to do reporting, so it is being observed, not even at all publications, so they can not be said to perform journalistic activities," Aristo said.

 According to him, the Act Keimigrasiaan, and regulation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs has explained, even for someone who witnesses criminal conduct journalistic activities is the last step that can be taken after other witnesses who are not powerless.

 "They do not do criminal acts, and the Immigration Act to ensure they are deported, as well as a letter from the Embassy of France to the Indonesian government has stated that the defendant did not engage in activities that endanger state security prosecutor referred to, so they should not be criminalized," said Aristo.

 Therefore, the defense memorandum, Aristo asked, judges for, first, stating that the defendant is not guilty of criminal acts such as prosecutors indicted.

 Second, release the two defendants of all charges and lawsuits; Third, release the defendant from custody; Fourth, restore the rights of the defendant and the defendant pengakuaan dignity and status.

 Fifth, return all the evidence belonging to the defendant; Sixth, the defendants charge case to the State.