Bambang Harymurti, editor of Tempo magazine, was cleared of defamation charges and a one year prison sentence handed down to him by a Jakarta district court was quashed by Indonesia's Supreme Court. President of the Alliance of Independent Journalists commented: "This is good for press freedom in Indonesia. It's not just good for us, but for the people."

Harymurti was sentenced to one year in prison in September 2004 on the charges of defamation and 'inciting unrest' after his magazine published an article suggesting that businessman Tomy Winata could benefit from a suspicious fire that took place in a market in Jakarta. The Supreme Court overruled the district court's decision by using a 1999 press law which defends the public's right to be informed. Justice Djoko Sarwoko made the following statement: "The press is the fourth estate, and its function must be protected." Source: Press Release