Ahmad Taufik (pronounced [ˈahmad ˈtaufɪʔ]); (12 July 1965 – 23 March 2017)[2] was an Indonesian newspaper journalist known for his articles critical of the dictatorship of President Suharto.
[3] Taufik worked as a reporter at the magazine Tempo until its banning by Information Minister Harmoko of Suharto's New Order government in 1994.
After finishing his high school at SMAN 24, he continued his study at Bandung Islamic University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in law.
On 16 March 1995, following a series of articles in AJI's news magazine Independen on the presidential succession and Suharto's great personal wealth, Taufik was arrested.
In a 3 March 2003 article that would spark numerous controversies, Taufik raised questions about the involvement of Tomy Winata—described as "one of Indonesia's most powerful businessmen"[9]—in the burning of the Tanah Abang textile market in Jakarta, a fire from which Winata allegedly stood to profit.
[14] Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists both protested on behalf of the reporters, the former naming them potential prisoners of conscience.
[9][10] On 16 September 2004, Harymurti was found guilty of "defamation and false reporting" and sentenced to a year in prison, while Taufik and Ali were exonerated.
[12] On 9 February 2005, Harymutri's sentence was also overturned by the Supreme Court of Indonesia, a spokesperson for which stated, "We want to ensure that journalists are protected".