PWI urges police to use its findings in murder case<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI)
\ncalled on police investigators Saturday to use as input findings
\nof its investigation into the Aug. 16 death of a Yogyakarta
\njournalist.<\/p>\n
Association chairman Sofyan Lubis said he hoped the police
\nwould use PWI's findings to compliment their query into the
\nmysterious murder of Fuad Muhammad Syafrudin.<\/p>\n
Lubis said although the police's findings were fundamentally
\ndifferent from the association's, the suggestion was not a
\nchallenge to the authorities.<\/p>\n
\"Coming out with different opinions is something normal in a
\ndemocratic country like Indonesia,\" Lubis said.<\/p>\n
The association has concluded that Syafrudin, better known as
\nUdin, was murdered because of his reporting on land disputes and
\nmismanagement of poverty alleviation program funds in the Bantul
\nregency, Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
The police have, from the outset, insisted the murder had
\nnothing to do with the journalist's job. They have arrested a man
\nthey believe murdered the Bernas daily reporter in a jealous
\noutrage.<\/p>\n
Udin died after three days in intensive care at Bethesda
\nHospital in Yogyakarta. He failed to regain consciousness after
\nreceiving serious injuries at the hands of his attackers on July
\n13.<\/p>\n
Lubis said if the police fail to solve the case, Indonesian
\njournalists will feel insecure in doing their jobs.<\/p>\n
In semarang to close a two-day meeting of the local chapter of
\nthe association, Lubis called on the 300 participants to
\nstrengthen solidarity among journalists.<\/p>\n
\"A strong sense of solidarity is needed whenever journalists
\nface hardship, just like the one suffered by Fuad Muhammad
\nSyafrudin who was beaten to death by people who have yet to be
\nidentified,\" Lubis said.<\/p>\n
\"But journalists ... are people of grace, who will not seek to
\navenge their colleague's death, but who will pray so that the
\nperpetrators will soon be willing to surrender to the police,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said the association expected the police investigation into
\nthe killing could later be used as a means to educate people and
\nhelp prevent further harassment of journalists.<\/p>\n
Novel Ali, an expert at the Semarang-based Diponegoro
\nUniversity separately said that the Udin affair shows that
\njournalism is becoming a dangerous profession in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"Our journalists are threatened with violence,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He cited other examples, such as the attack on a number of
\njournalists covering the July 27 riots in Jakarta. (har\/imn\/swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pwi-urges-police-to-use-its-findings-in-murder-case-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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