15 journalists abused in W. Sumatra, Kalimantan

15 journalists abused in W. Sumatra, Kalimantan

JAKARTA (JP): The Padang Legal Aid Office has urged the West
Sumatra Police to carry out a thorough investigation of the
maltreatment of 14 journalists in Gunung Medan, West Sumatra, on
Thursday.

"The police should give an official explanation as to why they
failed to give protection to the journalists during the
incident," Miko Kamal, chairman of the office, said in a press
release in the West Sumatra provincial capital of Padang on
Friday.

The office also called on all sides to respect the profession
of journalism.

Journalists of Kompas, Padang Ekpres, Haluan and Singgalang
dailies, SCTV and TVRI TV stations were beaten up and threatened
with death by workers of a sawmill, PT SBU, in Gunung Medan,
around 230 kilometers east of Padang, as they were about to cover
confiscation by the Padang district court of the company's
assets.

Kompas reported on Friday that G. Santos, a TPI reporter and
Afrinal Aliman, a Singgalang reporter were treated at the Yos
Sudarso Hospital in Padang for injuries they suffered in the
attack.

Risman, a SCTV correspondent, said that they were attacked
upon their arrival at the plant. He said dozens of security
personnel could do nothing to protect them, and two cars which
they were riding in were also damaged.

He said they escaped after being forced to hand over their
cassettes and film used in taking pictures of the sawmill to the
angry mob.

The court decided to confiscate the assets after the
businessman running the plant failed to honor obligations to
Basril Djabar, the plant site owner. The businessman, An Rasyid
had reportedly agreed to pay Rp 10 million, three months rental
for the three-hectare site.

Masri Marjan, chairman of the Indonesian Journalists
Association's provincial chapter in Padang, also urged police to
investigate the incident.

West Sumatra Police chief Col. Dasrul Lamsudin promised on
Friday that he would investigate the case thoroughly.

Meanwhile, Lamhot Sihotang, a journalist of the Forum news
magazine, was still in intensive care at an Army hospital in
Pontianak, West Kalimantan, recovering from serious injuries. He
was stabbed by two unidentified men apparently for his report on
gambling activities in the city.

Antara news agency reported on Friday that the victim was
stabbed in front of the Kapuas Palace Hotel in the city on
Thursday night.

A local correspondent quoted police as saying they had
arrested one of three suspects. (rms)