(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is gravely concerned over last week’s brutal murder of Supriadi, a reporter based in Aceh Province who was working for the Indonesian-language daily “Medan Pos”, a newspaper published in neighboring North Sumatra. **Updates IFEX alert of 10 August 1999** On 3 August 1999, Supriadi was abducted from his home near the provincial […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is gravely concerned over last week’s brutal murder of
Supriadi, a reporter based in Aceh Province who was working for the
Indonesian-language daily “Medan Pos”, a newspaper published in neighboring
North Sumatra.
**Updates IFEX alert of 10 August 1999**
On 3 August 1999, Supriadi was abducted from his home near the provincial
capital, Banda Aceh, by two unidentified men riding motorcycles, according
to the journalist’s wife, Poniyem. On 5 August, his severely mutilated body
was found at the site of an irrigation project in the town of Bukit Hagu, in
Northern Aceh. The Jakarta-based “Kompas” newspaper, in its Sunday 8 August
edition, reported that Supriadi had been shot in the chest, and that his
throat had been cut so deeply that his head was nearly severed from the rest
of his body.
Though the assailants’ motives have not yet been established, CPJ fears that
Supriadi may have been killed for his journalistic work. The chief editor of
the “Medan Pos”, Ibrahim Sinik, told “Kompas” that Supriadi had been
investigating corrupt dealings involving an agricultural project intended to
help small farmers. Supriadi also reported on development and education
issues in Aceh, where a decades-long separatist rebellion has intensified in
recent months.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the president:
investigation into this case so that Supriadi’s killers are brought to
justice
his government’s commitment to improving conditions for the press in
Indonesia, demonstrating that violent crimes against journalists will not be
tolerated
investigation
Appeals To
His Excellency Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie
President, Republic of Indonesia
Office of the President
Bina Graha, Jalan Veteran No. 17
Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia
Fax: +62 21 778 182
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
