(AJI/IFEX) – The following is a 3 August 2000 letter to the national police chief, General (Police) Roesdiharjo, by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) Jakarta Office, of which AJI is a member: August 3, 2000 His Excellency General (Police) Roesdiharjo National Police Chief Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia Via Fax: 62 21 […]
(AJI/IFEX) – The following is a 3 August 2000 letter to the national police chief, General (Police) Roesdiharjo, by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) Jakarta Office, of which AJI is a member:
August 3, 2000
His Excellency General (Police) Roesdiharjo
National Police Chief
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia
Via Fax: 62 21 7207277
Your Excellency,
The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) Jakarta Office is deeply alarmed over the violent acts recently committed against Serambi journalist Ibrahim Ahmad, who was beaten by a Mobile Brigade officer in Aceh, Indonesia.
On July 29, Ahmad was planning to cover the return of more than 5000 refugees to Lhoksukon, Northern Aceh Distrik, but when he arrived, all the refugees were already back in their homes. Ahmad then went to a small nearby café, where a group of police officers were gathered.
When he was in the café, a Mobile Brigade officer asked loudly who among the people there was a journalist. Ahmad approached the officer and introduced himself. The officer then asked what Ahmad’s intention was in Lhoksukon. The daily newspaper journalist explained he wanted to do a report on the returning refugees. All of a sudden, the officer punched Ahmad’s stomach and kicked him as the journalist fell to the ground. The other officers stopped the one sided fight, leaving Ahmad with bruises on his stomach.
As an organisation of journalists dedicated to the protection of our colleagues and the promotion of press freedom, we condemn this attack in the strongest possible language, because the incident points to a deterioration of the state of press freedom in Indonesia. We are sure you will agree that journalists should be able to carry out their professional duties without fear of harassment and attack, and that such incidents foster a climate of fear that inhibits journalistic investigation and could promote self-censorship.
We respectfully call on you to ensure that an investigation is launched and those responsible for the attack are brought to justice. We also ask you to guarantee the safety of the journalist. SEAPA, together with other media advocacy groups worldwide, have closely monitored this case with great concern and look forward to your prompt response.
Respectfully yours,
Lukas Luwarso
Director
Solahudin
Advocacy Coordinator
Recommended Action
Similar appeals can be sent to:His Excellency General (Police) Roesdiharjo
National Police Chief
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia
Fax: +62 21 720 7277Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
