15 journalists abused in W. Sumatra, Kalimantan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Padang Legal Aid Office has urged the West
\nSumatra Police to carry out a thorough investigation of the
\nmaltreatment of 14 journalists in Gunung Medan, West Sumatra, on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
\"The police should give an official explanation as to why they
\nfailed to give protection to the journalists during the
\nincident,\" Miko Kamal, chairman of the office, said in a press
\nrelease in the West Sumatra provincial capital of Padang on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
The office also called on all sides to respect the profession
\nof journalism.<\/p>\n
Journalists of Kompas, Padang Ekpres, Haluan and Singgalang
\ndailies, SCTV and TVRI TV stations were beaten up and threatened
\nwith death by workers of a sawmill, PT SBU, in Gunung Medan,
\naround 230 kilometers east of Padang, as they were about to cover
\nconfiscation by the Padang district court of the company's
\nassets.<\/p>\n
Kompas reported on Friday that G. Santos, a TPI reporter and
\nAfrinal Aliman, a Singgalang reporter were treated at the Yos
\nSudarso Hospital in Padang for injuries they suffered in the
\nattack.<\/p>\n
Risman, a SCTV correspondent, said that they were attacked
\nupon their arrival at the plant. He said dozens of security
\npersonnel could do nothing to protect them, and two cars which
\nthey were riding in were also damaged.<\/p>\n
He said they escaped after being forced to hand over their
\ncassettes and film used in taking pictures of the sawmill to the
\nangry mob.<\/p>\n
The court decided to confiscate the assets after the
\nbusinessman running the plant failed to honor obligations to
\nBasril Djabar, the plant site owner. The businessman, An Rasyid
\nhad reportedly agreed to pay Rp 10 million, three months rental
\nfor the three-hectare site.<\/p>\n
Masri Marjan, chairman of the Indonesian Journalists
\nAssociation's provincial chapter in Padang, also urged police to
\ninvestigate the incident.<\/p>\n
West Sumatra Police chief Col. Dasrul Lamsudin promised on
\nFriday that he would investigate the case thoroughly.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Lamhot Sihotang, a journalist of the Forum news
\nmagazine, was still in intensive care at an Army hospital in
\nPontianak, West Kalimantan, recovering from serious injuries. He
\nwas stabbed by two unidentified men apparently for his report on
\ngambling activities in the city.<\/p>\n
Antara news agency reported on Friday that the victim was
\nstabbed in front of the Kapuas Palace Hotel in the city on
\nThursday night.<\/p>\n
A local correspondent quoted police as saying they had
\narrested one of three suspects. (rms)<\/p>",
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