An Indonesian journalist with the Yogyakarta-based daily “Bernas” died on 16 August 1996 of injuries sustained in an attack at his home three days earlier. The attack is believed to be related to articles he had written. Fuad Muhammad Syafrudin, 33, died after three days in intensive care at a Catholic hospital in the ancient […]
An Indonesian journalist with the Yogyakarta-based daily “Bernas”
died on 16 August 1996 of injuries sustained in an attack at his
home three days earlier. The attack is believed to be related to
articles he had written.
Fuad Muhammad Syafrudin, 33, died after three days in intensive
care at a Catholic hospital in the ancient Javanese city of
Yogyakarta, around 500 kilometres east of Jakarta. He failed to
regain consciousness after the attack. According to his wife,
Syafrudin suffered serious injuries to the head and stomach after
he was attacked by two unidentified visitors at his house on 13
August. The visitors used a metal stick to hit him in his living
room, while his wife was preparing the tea. They fled using a
motorcycle parked in front of the house.
Days before the attack, Syafrudin filed reports on allegations
that some government officials, apparently involving Bantul Regent
Sri Roso Sudarmo, had misused government funds. A journalist said
the regent was angered by the reports and once said he would like
to teach Syafrudin “a lesson.”
Around 2,000 people, including Yogyakarta journalists, attended
his burial. Colleagues believe the attack was related to articles
on land disputes and corruption involving government officials in
the Bantul regency, a suburb of Yogyakarta, where Syafrudin was
working. He was known to be bold and straightforward in his
writing.
The “Bernas” daily newspaper is a subsidiary of the KOMPAS-
Gramedia business group, the biggest media corporation in
Indonesia. Yogyakarta itself is known as a university town. The
newspaper is the smaller of two local newspapers there.
His colleagues say Syafruddin was an idealistic journalist. Some
days before the attack, a number of mysterious people reportedly
looked for him at the “Bernas” office. When his wife asked him
about it, he answered, “What I write is the facts. If I have to
die, I will accept it.” He is survived by his wife and two
children.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
Muhammad Syafruddin and to apprehend and prosecute those
responsible
this case
Appeals To
His Excellency General Suharto
President
Office of the President
Bina Graha, Jalan Veteran No. 17
Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia
Fax: +62 21 360 517/367 782
Agung Singgih, S.H.
Attorney General
Jakarta, Indonesia
Fax: +62 21 720 8557
Haji Oetoyo Usman
Minister of Justice
Jakarta, Indonesia
Fax: +62 21 525 3095
Ali Alatas
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jalan Taman Pejambon 6
Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia
Fax: +62 21 345 0517
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
