Press freedom under threat : council chief

"There are at least three cases that came under the spotlight recently, including the trial of columnist Besihar Lubis who is facing an eight-month jail sentence for a column in Koran Tempo daily considered to have insulted the public prosecutors` office as an institution," Ichlasul said.

In another instance, a reporter of Oposisi tabloid, Dahri Uhum Nasution, was sentenced to one year in jail by the Supreme Court over a report on a corruption case.

"The latest case involved Risang Bima Wijaya, former general manager of Radar Jogja Jawa Pos, who was sentenced to six months in jail by the Sleman District Court in Yogyakarta for alleged defamation," he added.