"Journo Arrested For Reporting On Palm Oil Tycoon’s Alleged Land Grab"

"JAKARTA — Activists have condemned the arrest of a journalist in Indonesia for reporting on a land conflict between a palm oil company owned by a powerful tycoon and indigenous groups in Borneo.

Police arrested Diananta Putra Sumedi on May 4 and charged him under a controversial 2016 law on electronic communications. The law has frequently been used to bring charges against individuals, including journalists, on the nebulous grounds that their writings or statements “cause offense.” Diananta faces up to six years in prison if convicted.

In a statement, the International Federation of Journalists called on the Indonesian police to release Diananta, the chief editor of the news site banjarhits.id and correspondent for investigative outlet Tempo."

Hans Nicholas Jong reports for Mongabay May 7, 2020.

Source: Mongabay, 05/08/2020