Journalists condemn assault on cameramen, photographers<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Journalists' associations condemned on Tuesday the assault of
\nfour journalists by the police during a clash between police
\nofficers and anti-U.S. protesters on Monday.<\/p>\n
The Association of Indonesian Television Journalists (IJTI)
\nand the Association of Independent Journalists (AJI) agreed that
\nwhat the police had done to the four journalists was an attack on
\npress freedom.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Photo Journalists regretted the assault and
\nsaid that the city police should be held responsible for the
\nincident.<\/p>\n
The four victims were two cameraman, Medo Malianza from Metro
\nTV and Agung Nugroho from Indosiar, and two photographers, Dadang
\nfrom Reuters and Lamhot Aritonang from Pantura daily.<\/p>\n
The incident happened when the police dispersed protesters in
\nfront of the House of Representatives\/People's Consultative
\nAssembly building by using a water canon. Things became chaotic,
\nas the police beat people and also vandalized some vehicles.<\/p>\n
As Medo shot a scene in which police officers were damaging a
\ncar, an officer turned to him, shouting, \"Don't take that
\npicture!\" Medo stopped, but some other officers then forced him
\nto hand over the cassette and beat him, according to a statement
\nsigned by IJTI chairman, Haris Jauhari.<\/p>\n
\"The police took arbitrary action, they were arrogant and they
\nacted against democracy,\" Jauhari said.<\/p>\n
What the police did could be seen as a violation of Press Law
\n40\/1999, which guarantees press freedom and protects journalists
\nwho are on duty.<\/p>\n
An apology from city police chief Insp.Gen. Sofjan Jacoeb was
\nnot sufficient, Jauhari said.<\/p>\n
\"The problem is, censorship was exercised by security
\nofficers ... which deprived the public of the right to
\ninformation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Both IJTI and AJI urged the police to take legal action
\nagainst the officers who were involved in the assault.<\/p>\n
Sofjan handed over the cassettes belonging to Metro TV and
\nIndosiar to Metro TV chief editor Andy F. Noya, and to chief of
\nthe Press Council, Atmakusumah Astraatmadja, representing
\nIndosiar later on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
In return, Sofjan received a copy of Press Law No. 40\/1999, a
\nbook on protection for journalists and a poster depicting a
\njournalist covering an event who was beaten by security officers.<\/p>\n
\"I have established a team consisting of police intelligence
\npersonnel, the Military Police and the inspector general to
\ninvestigate the assault of the journalists,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also promised to inform his officers about the Press Law.<\/p>\n
The ceremony, which took place at the Jakarta Media Center on
\nJl. Kebon Sirih in Central Jakarta, was witnessed by the chairman
\nof the Newspaper Publishers Union, Leo Batubara, National Police
\nspokesman Brig. Gen. Saleh Saaf and city police spokesman Sr.
\nComr. Anton Bachrul Alam.<\/p>\n
According to Anton, three officers had been questioned for
\nallegedly beating the journalists. He said they could be charged
\nwith article 406 on vandalism, which carries a maximum penalty of
\ntwo years and eight months in jail or a Rp 4,500 fine.<\/p>\n
If proven guilty, they could face possible dismissal or other
\nadministrative sanctions, he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/journalists-condemn-assault-on-cameramen-photographers-1447893297",
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