Journalists protest beating of photographers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): More than 200 journalists staged on Wednesday a
\nprotest at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) against the
\nbeating by security personnel of three photo journalists during a
\nstudent demonstration on Jl. Imam Bonjol in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The journalists -- who were there to cover the Assembly's
\nSpecial Session -- demanded the Armed Forces (ABRI) leadership
\napologize and order an investigation into the incident.<\/p>\n
The reporters gathered at a foyer of the building, staging a
\nfree speech forum and holding banners that read, among other
\nthings, \"Press condemns beatings,\" \"Armed Forces anarchistic\" and
\n\"Stop violence against journalists.\"<\/p>\n
They also walked out of a meeting with ABRI chief spokesman
\nMaj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif, representing ABRI Chief Gen. Wiranto,
\nas he delivered the military leadership's apology. They demanded
\nthat Wiranto himself apologize.<\/p>\n
Head of the military think-tank National Resilience Institute
\n(Lemhanas) Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar tried to appease the reporters,
\npromising the Armed Forces would certainly get to the bottom of
\nthe incident. \"Please trust us,\" he asked of the pressmen.<\/p>\n
Eddy Hasbi of Kompas daily, Saptono of Antara news agency and
\nTatan Agus of Gatra weekly were covering the clashes between
\nsecurity personnel and student protesters on Jl. Imam Bonjol on
\nWednesday evening.<\/p>\n
It was then that they were beaten up by some troops.<\/p>\n
Saptono, who suffered serious injuries to his head, was still
\nbeing treated in the St. Carolus Hospital while the others have
\nbeen discharged from the hospital.<\/p>\n
The incident drew protests from the Indonesian Journalists
\nAssociation (PWI), legislators and the National Commission of
\nHuman Rights alike.<\/p>\n
Senior journalist Parni Hadi strongly protested the beating,
\nand demanded that the Armed Forces investigate it. He also called
\non fellow journalists not to take unnecessary risks. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/journalists-protest-beating-of-photographers-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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