Police allowed 'Tempo' attack: AJI lawyers<\/p>\n
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In their closing statement, lawyers for the Jakarta chapter of
\nthe Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) accused the police
\non Wednesday of allowing the mob of hooligans to attack the
\noffice and journalists of Tempo weekly magazine.<\/p>\n
The lawyers, grouped under the Committee of Defenders of Press
\nFreedom (KPKP), told the Central Jakarta District Court that the
\ndefense put forth by the police's legal team at the trial had
\nbackfired in favor of the plaintiff.<\/p>\n
KPKP coordinator Azas Tigor Nainggolan underlined that the
\npolice had claimed that the violence against journalist Abdul
\nManan and chief editor Bambang Harymurti were spontaneous acts
\nand therefore unavoidable.<\/p>\n
"Abdul Manan was assaulted at the Tempo office, while Bambang
\nwas assaulted at the Central Jakarta Police office much later.
\nThe police failed to carry out their duty to protect the people,
\nbecause they let the violence occur spontaneously several times,"
\nTigor said.<\/p>\n
The defendants in the lawsuit are the National Police chief,
\nthe Jakarta Police chief, the Central Jakarta Police chief and
\nthe Menteng Police chief.<\/p>\n
The suit accuses the officers of negligence of duty in failing
\nto stop the attack, which took place on March 8.<\/p>\n
Led by David Tjioe, a group of people who claimed to be
\nsupporters of businessman Tomy Winata protested an article
\npublished in Tempo, which they claimed insinuated that Tomy had a
\nrole in the fire that burned down Tanah Abang textile market in
\nFebruary. David had been exonerated by a separate court from
\ncharges of assault against the Tempo journalists.<\/p>\n
In support of the accusation, Tigor also pointed out that the
\nCentral Jakarta Police chief issued a brief on March 7 ordering
\nofficers to observe the demonstration, while the demonstrators
\nsent a letter informing the police of the planned rally only on
\nMarch 8, a day after the chief's orders were issued to the force.<\/p>\n
"The journalists suffered from physical abuse and trauma from
\nthe violence, while they were denied protection from the police
\n-- who are supposed to ensure the people's safety," he added.<\/p>\n
Presiding Judge Iskandar Tjake adjourned the hearing of the
\nsuit until Sept. 23, when the court is to hand down its decision.<\/p>",
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