Tempo's Rp200 Billion Civil Lawsuit vs. Minister of Agriculture: Not to Silence the Press, But to Uphold Journalistic Ethics
Jakarta, November 12, 2025, MedanPers.id
The Rp200 billion civil lawsuit filed by Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman against Tempo has drawn attention. Minister Amran's attorney, Chandra Muliawan, emphasized that the lawsuit is not aimed at silencing press freedom, but rather at upholding journalistic ethics and protecting the honor of Indonesian farmers.
"This lawsuit is not about personal matters, but about protecting the honor of farmers and journalistic ethics," Chandra said.
If the lawsuit is granted, all funds will be transferred to the state treasury and used for strategic programs in the agricultural sector. Minister Amran himself has never received a salary as a state official and frequently uses personal funds for ministry activities.
Tempo is considered to have failed to comply with the Press Council's recommendations after being found to have violated the journalistic code of ethics regarding the "Poles-Poles Beras Suk" poster. The visualization used by Tempo is considered detrimental to the image of farmers' hard work and misleading the public.
Tempo's Editor-in-Chief, Setri Yasra, believes the lawsuit could set a bad precedent for press freedom. She believes that public officials should resolve disputes through the Press Council mechanism, not through legal channels.
The Press Council has issued Decision Number 3/PPR-DP/VI/2025, declaring that Tempo violated the Journalistic Code of Ethics in its coverage of "Poles-Poles Beras Rot." Tempo was deemed inaccurate, exaggerated, and mixed up facts and opinions, thus creating a misleading perception among the public.
The Press Council recommends that Tempo:
- Change the poster title to be more appropriate
- Add an explanation and apology
- Moderate negative comments directed at the aggrieved party
- Report evidence of follow-up action within 3 x 24 hours
In this case, the Press Council has acted fairly in its response. However, Tempo felt it was taking the lead by downplaying the issue. Therefore, Tempo must accept the consequences with a big heart.
However, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman felt that Tempo had not fully implemented the Press Council's decision, so he filed a civil lawsuit with the South Jakarta District Court demanding Rp200 billion.
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