(CPJ/IFEX) – According to information released by the Alliance of Independent Journalists (Aliansi Jurnalis Independen or AJI) on 16 May 1998, there have been a recent series of violent and indiscriminate attacks by security forces against Indonesian journalists. The frequency of such attacks has increased over the past month as the level of student and […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – According to information released by the Alliance of
Independent Journalists (Aliansi Jurnalis Independen or AJI) on 16 May 1998,
there have been a recent series of violent and indiscriminate attacks by
security forces against Indonesian journalists. The frequency of such
attacks has increased over the past month as the level of student and public
protest in Indonesia has increased.
**This alert contains information further to IFEX alert of 20 May 1998, as
well as new cases**
Journalists who have been injured in these attacks include:
Sayuti, a photographer for the Jakarta newspaper “Media Indonesia”, was shot
on the right side of his chest while photographing security forces shooting
into a crowd in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta. He is currently hospitalized.
Tutang Muchtar, a photographer for the Jakarta news weekly “Sinar”, was
beaten by
eight members of the security apparatus while covering a student
demonstration at the Rawamangun Teacher Training Institute in Jakarta.
Although he showed his attackers his journalist identification card, he was
beaten until he bled and his camera was seized.
Riyanto Oemar, a journalist for the Jakarta newspaper “Republika”, suffered
serious injuries when beaten by mobile brigade (anti-riot) police while
covering a demonstration in Bandung.
Ika Rais, a journalist with the Bandung newspaper “Pikiran Rakyat”, suffered
bruises on his arm after being beaten by security personnel, and was
temporarily detained.
AR Rochim, a journalist for the weekly Jakarta paper “Aksi”, was threatened
with the barrel of a pistol, and suffered serious injuries when beaten by
security forces.
Hermansyah Pani, a journalist for the Surabaya newspaper “Surya”, was
threatened by mobile brigade police while covering a student demonstration
in Mataram, Lombok. He was told he would be shot in the head.
Munawar Mandailing, a senior reporter at the Medan, Sumatra bureau of the
Antara
national news agency, was assaulted by security forces outside the entrance
to the University of North Sumatra campus. When he showed his journalist
identification card, security guards seized it and ripped it up. He was
subsequently detained at a police center in Medan and had to be hospitalized
for several days due to his injuries.
Hindayoen Nts, a journalist for the Jakarta newspaper “Kompas”, and Edi
Romadhon,
a journalist for the Yogyakarta newspaper “Kedaulatan Rakyat”, were beaten
by
security forces while taking photographs at a student demonstration at
General Soedirman University in Purwokerto, Java.
Yuyung Abdi, a journalist at the Surabaya newspaper “Jawa Pos”, was kicked
by motorcycle troops while photographing a protest in front of the local
parliament
building in Surabaya.
These acts of violence against journalists clearly constitute criminal acts
and violations of the duty of security personnel to safeguard the public.
Security personnel should instead protect journalists carrying out their
professional duties.
AJI therefore:
1) demands that the security forces, and the commander-in-chief of the
armed forces, apologize publicly for these acts of violence;
2) demands that the armed forces take responsibility for the violent acts
by compensating the injured journalists for the damages they have incurred
and by taking firm action against those members of the security forces who
are proven to have carried out the acts of violence;
3) demands an end to repressive actions against journalists which tarnish
the integrity of the security apparatus, and calls on security officials to
guarantee the safety of journalists carrying out their professional duties.
