Shinta Maharani, Jakarta – Indonesian diaspora in Australia, as part of the Melbourne Bergerak movement, held a Kamisan action (Aksi Kamisan) at the State Library of Victoria on Thursday, November 6, 2025. They voiced condemnation against Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman's lawsuit against Tempo in the South Jakarta District Court.
Deputy of Melbourne Bergerak, Ulya Niami Jamson, said the lawsuit reflects a new form of media suppression under the Prabowo government. "We firmly declare Melbourne Bergerak stands with Tempo," said Ulya, familiarly known as Pipin, in a WhatsApp message on Thursday.
According to Pipin, Tempo reflected what she described as "dissent voices" by reporting the truth in the article contested by Minister Amran, and advocating for public interest. Moreover, the news agency shed light on the fate of Indonesian farmers in its reporting on rice.
The diaspora in Australia, she said, stood behind Tempo in solidarity with press freedom and the struggle of journalists in Indonesia.
Indonesians in Melbourne previously showed support for Tempo during the pig head's threat. The rally emerged during the first Kamisan action in Melbourne in front of the Indonesian Consulate General on April 10, 2025.
The University of Melbourne student, Jesslyn Mulyanto, called for public support for Tempo, as suppressing the news agency is not just about bankrupting the organization, but also about killing press freedom, freedom of thought, and expression.
Preventing Tempo's downfall, she said, means warding off the silencing of critical voices in Indonesia. "Take action for the sake of your freedom," she implores, in a brief message on Thursday, November 7, 2025.
Melbourne Bergerak said Prabowo's government will repeat the suppression of the press under the New Order regime led by former President Soeharto if the court ruled in favor of Amran's lawsuit.
The New Order regime censored Tempo 31 years ago, on June 21, 1994. Along with Tempo, two other media organizations, Editor Magazine and Tabloid Detik, also lost their Press Publisher Permit (SIUPP).
Support also came from the former Radio SBS journalist, Bela Kusumah. Bela now resides in Melbourne. She stated that the press suppression in 1994 against the three mass media left a very deep wound for press freedom. "Soeharto does not deserve the title of a hero, because his track record silenced press freedom, which is a pillar of democracy," said Bela.
Bela stated that Amran's lawsuit is a covert form of media suppression. According to her, the lawsuit is a method of silencing using legal or judicial means.
In addition to supporting Tempo, the Kamisan action also voiced rejection of the proposal for President Soeharto as a national hero and demanded that the Indonesian government release all political prisoners incarcerated for the demonstrations at the end of August.
Melbourne Bergerak is part of the International Committee of Indonesia Bergerak, consisting of the diaspora in 23 countries.