Arson attack on journalist’s home

(AJI/IFEX) – The following is a letter to the Southeast Sulawesi Police Force chief by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which AJI is a member: His Excellency Brigadier General (Police) Zaenal Abidin Ishak Chief, Southeast Sulawesi Police Force +62 451 422 521 Your Excellency, The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) Jakarta office is […]

(AJI/IFEX) – The following is a letter to the Southeast Sulawesi Police Force chief by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which AJI is a member:

His Excellency
Brigadier General (Police) Zaenal Abidin Ishak
Chief, Southeast Sulawesi Police Force
+62 451 422 521

Your Excellency,

The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) Jakarta office is extremely alarmed over the arson attack on a house belonging to an SKM Pembela weekly journalist in the town of Tolitoli, Southeast Sulawesi, on October 9, 2002. The perpetrator(s) remain unknown.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The journalist, Udin Lammata, came home at 2:00 a.m. and went straight to bed. He was awoken by the heat at around 3:00 a.m. and found the front of his house already on fire. He immediately ran to get water and successfully put out the fire. Lammata later found two petrol jerry cans – one burnt and another empty – at the scene.

Lammata thought he had no enemies. However, a SEAPA correspondent traced back some articles written by the doomed journalist on cases of corruption and nepotism within the Tolitoli Administration headed by District Head Ma’ruf Bantilan that could have led to the attack. Lammata has also frequently written about the appointment of the district’s first lady as Head of the Regional Transmigration Office (Kimpraswil), and a case where the district cut 10% of contract funds for local contractors. These critical reports sparked a clash between the district head and the SKM Pembela journalist. The district head banned Lammata from entering his press conference in August this year. He said Lammata was unethical. Lammata was furious, and reported the district head to the police for obstructing his work.

As an organization of journalists dedicated to press freedom and to the protection of journalists, SEAPA Jakarta condemns this attack in the strongest possible language. It points to a further deterioration in the state of press freedom in Indonesia. Journalists must be free to conduct their professional duties without fear of harassment and attack. Such incidents could foster a climate of fear that inhibits journalistic investigations and leads to self-censorship.

So far, SEAPA has yet to see any serious action taken by the Southeast Sulawesi Police to tackle this case. SEAPA urges you to guarantee the safety of journalists to operate in your region. SEAPA, along with other media advocacy groups worldwide, will monitor this case with great concern and looks forward to your prompt response.

Respectfully yours,

Solahudin
Advocacy Coordinator

Recommended Action

Similar appeals can be sent to:

His Excellency Brigadier General (Police) Zaenal Abidin Ishak

Chief, Southeast Sulawesi Police Force

Tel: +62 451 422 521
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.