TV journalists held hostage in Boyolali<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Surakarta\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Violence against the media is still rampant in certain parts of
\nIndonesian despite the reforms introduced following the downfall
\nof former dictator Soeharto four years ago.<\/p>\n
The latest case was experienced by four television
\njournalists, who were held hostage for more than seven hours last
\nweek by thousands of residents of Guwo village in the subdistrict
\nof Kemusu, Boyolali regency, Central Java.<\/p>\n
The hostage drama started at 4 p.m. on Apr. 4, 2002, when Yudi
\nSutomo and Kiswanto, respectively a reporter and cameraman for
\nSCTV television, and Triyogo and Umarudin, respectively a
\nreporter and cameraman with state broadcaster TVRI, were covering
\na land dispute involving the local administration and some
\nvillagers.<\/p>\n
The disputed 3,000-square meter site was to be converted into
\na small bus terminal. A number of houses on the site had already
\nbeen bulldozed by the local authorities and residents, except for
\nthe home of the Suparno family, who refused to move.<\/p>\n
When the four journalists admitted they had been invited by
\nthe Suparnos' lawyer, Yudhi Ali, the unnamed secretary of the
\nGuwo village council suddenly started beating a traditional
\nbamboo drum to warn local residents of danger.<\/p>\n
Some 2,000 villagers quickly mobbed the journalists, seizing
\ntheir recordings and forcing them to walk for more than two
\nkilometers from the site to the village head's office after their
\ncar tires had been slashed.<\/p>\n
On the way to the village head's office, the mob repeatedly
\nyelled \"Kill and burn the journalists\".<\/p>\n
The journalists were later released by 12 midnight on the same
\nday after they promised not to publish what they had seen in the
\narea. The release occurred one hour after the arrival of Boyolali
\npolice personnel.<\/p>\n
Boyolali Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Dolly Bambang Hermawan
\nconfirmed the violence perpetrated against the four reporters and
\ncameramen, saying his men had rescued them from the mob.<\/p>\n
However, he said no suspects had been charged nor arrests
\nmade.<\/p>\n
The incident sparked condemnation from many journalists'
\nassociations, which said it was an act of terror against the
\nmedia designed to curb the freedom of journalists and prohibit
\npeople from enjoying their right to receive information.<\/p>\n
The Association of Indonesian Television Journalists (IJTI)
\nurged the Boyolali Police to investigate the case and take
\neffective measures to prevent similar violence from recurring.<\/p>\n
\"If ignored, it will set a bad precedent for the survival of
\nthe press and destroy the democratization efforts we are
\npromoting now,\" said the IJTI in a statement.<\/p>\n
The Independent Journalist Alliance (AJI) also slammed the
\nhostage drama in Boyolali. It had clearly violated Articles 4 and
\n18 of Law No. 40\/1999 on the media, it said.<\/p>\n
This law carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison or a
\nRp 500 million fine for those found guilty of deliberately trying
\nto hamper the press and access to information.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Boyolali Regent Djaka Srijanta said his
\nadministration would send a delegation to Guwo village to brief
\nlocal residents on the journalistic profession.<\/p>\n
\"We will try to explain to them about the duties and functions
\nof journalists, who are neutral and do not take a particular
\nside,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Djaka voiced concern over the violence against the four TVRI
\nand SCTV journalists.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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