(AJI/IFEX) — The following is an action alert by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which AJI is a member: In a letter to Megawati Soekarnoputri, Chair of the Indonesian Democratic Party – Struggle (PDI-P), SEAPA-Jakarta condemned the attack on journalists by members of the Pancasila Youth group (PP) and the PDI-P in Medan, […]
(AJI/IFEX) — The following is an action alert by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which AJI is a member:
In a letter to Megawati Soekarnoputri, Chair of the Indonesian Democratic Party – Struggle (PDI-P), SEAPA-Jakarta condemned the attack on journalists by members of the Pancasila Youth group (PP) and the PDI-P in Medan, North Sumatra, on 2 May 2001. The members assaulted the “Sinar Medan” daily photographer Indralis and Radio Prapanca FM reporter Mohammad Hidayat.
The incident started when members of the PP and the PDI-P were angered by the Medan District Court’s decision to adjourn the hearing on the murder of a PP member, who was also a follower of the PDI-P. Pandemonium broke loose as the crowd kicked and threw court chairs and tables.
Indralis was taking photos of the men when the protesters turned on him. They took away his camera and told the photographer to hand over his film. Hidayat saw the assault and approached the men with his mini tape recorder. But one of the men grabbed his recorder, threw it to the ground and repeatedly stepped on it.
The thugs then told the journalists not to report the news, otherwise they would be killed.
SEAPA promises that, along with other media advocacy groups worldwide, it will monitor this case with great concern.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– expressing concern at the rise of violence against journalists by her party’s supporters
– demanding that she take action in response to her supporters’ conduct
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
Megawati Soekarnoputri
Chair of the Indonesian Democratic Party – Struggle (PDI-P)
Office of PDI-P
Jl Lenteng Angung No.99
South Jakarta, Indonesia
Fax: +62 21 780 2824
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
For further information, contact Lukas Luwarso or Solahudin at the SEAPA Jakarta office, Jl. Mesjid IV/19 Pejompongan, Jakarta 10210, Indonesia, tel/fax: +62 21 573 2341, e-mail: seapajak@cbn.net.id, or
the Alliance of Independent Journalists (Aliansi Jurnalis Independen, AJI), Jl. LAN I no. 12 A, Pejompongan, Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia, tel: +62 21 5711 044/056, fax: +62 21 5711 063, e-mail: ajioffice@aji-indonesia.or.id, Internet: http://www.ajinews.or.id (as of May 2001)
