(AJI/IFEX) – The following is an action alert by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which AJI is a member: In a 15 March 2001 letter to National Police Chief Suroyo Bimantoro SEAPA’s Jakarta Office condemned the Aceh police for terrorising and forcing a number of journalists in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh […]
(AJI/IFEX) – The following is an action alert by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which AJI is a member:
In a 15 March 2001 letter to National Police Chief Suroyo Bimantoro SEAPA’s Jakarta Office condemned the Aceh police for terrorising and forcing a number of journalists in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province, to act as witnesses in a rape case. The reporters were in no way involved with the case. Their only connection was their presence at press conferences about the incident.
The journalists, among them Effendi (TPI), Yusrizal and Marhiansyah Azis (RCTI), Taufan Nugraha (68H), Cici (Radio Prima), Nazamuddin Umar (Kompas), Iskandar Syah (Waspada), Muharam M Noor (Kontras Tabloid), and Jasman (SCTV) went to two press conferences organised by the National Commission on Human Rights (KOMNASHAM) at its office. The commission was advocating on behalf of five Acehnese women who claimed members of the Indonesian Armed Forces’ Mobile Brigade had raped them.
The first press conference took place on 27 February. The victims did not attend the event. Activists of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KONTRAS) represented them instead. The second press conference was held on 1 March, and the victims were present at that time.
The case took a different twist when Aceh police detained the five women. SEAPA sources reported that soon after, the alleged rape victims withdrew their testimonies and the police turned the matter into a libel case. They said the organisations involved had defamed them.
On 12 March, Aceh police summoned the journalists who attended the two meetings to come in on 15 March as witnesses in the libel case. Radio 68H reporter Taufan Nugraha and SCTV reporter Jasman refused to come, as they are protected by the right to ignore a summons in accordance with the Indonesian Press Law. Their decision angered several police officers who threatened the journalists that if they did so, they would instead be called as suspects. The other journalists also refused, and none turned up at the police station on 15 March.
SEAPA urged Aceh journalists not to let this incident stop them from doing their journalistic work professionally and optimally. The alliance said that, along with other media advocacy groups worldwide, it would monitor this case with great concern.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the national police chief:
– asking Aceh police to respect a journalist’s right to ignore a summons
– condemning Aceh police for using unprofessional methods and threatening journalists – demanding that the police cease all actions that could obstruct press freedom and the legal work of journalists
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
His Excellency General (Police) Suroyo Bimantoro
National Police Chief
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3
South Jakarta, Indonesia
Fax: +62 21 720 7277
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
