(AJI/IFEX) – The following is an action alert by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which AJI is a member: In a 1 November 2001 letter to Indonesian Attorney General Muhammad Abdul Rachman, SEAPA-Jakarta condemned members of the Ka’bah Youth Movement (GPK) for assaulting at least three journalists and preventing journalists from working at […]
(AJI/IFEX) – The following is an action alert by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which AJI is a member:
In a 1 November 2001 letter to Indonesian Attorney General Muhammad Abdul Rachman, SEAPA-Jakarta condemned members of the Ka’bah Youth Movement (GPK) for assaulting at least three journalists and preventing journalists from working at the Attorney General’s Office in Jakarta on 31 October 2001.
On the day of the incident, a large number of journalists were waiting for Chair of the People’s Representative Council Akbar Tanjung, who was to be questioned in a case. But as Tanjung’s Land Cruiser jeep (police number: B 8672 VG) rolled into the office compound, members of the GPK organisation also went in and, for unknown reasons, set up a human blockade around the jeep, preventing photographers from taking photos of the council chair.
The photographers were angered by the move and demanded that the GPK members either stop disturbing their work or leave the compound. However, members of the youth group continued their blockade. Both groups then clashed.
Three journalists were victims in the clash, including “Surya” daily photographer Dodok HW, “Kompas” photographer Danu and Triwijaya Radio reporter Bambang Setiaji. Dodok HW suffered cuts to the left side of his forehead from being hit by a road sign post. Danu suffered bruises on his head from being hit by a blunt object, while Setiaji lost his glasses after being punched by GPK members.
SEAPA recalls that this was not the first time that such an assault has occurred at the Attorney General’s Office. Another incident took place on 2 May, when bodyguards of former minister Ginanjar Kartasasmita assaulted journalists.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the Attorney General’s Office:
– urging officials to guarantee the safety of journalists exercising their professional duties
– noting that this would not only benefit journalists, but also help maintain the Attorney General’s Office’s credibility
– further noting that the Attorney General’s Office must be a place where justice prevails, rather than a place where human rights violations are committed
Appeals To
Muhammad Abdul Rachman
Attorney General
Attorney General’s Office of the Republic of Indonesia
Jalan Sultan Hasanudin No.1
South Jakarta, Indonesia
Facsimile: +62 21 725 0166Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
