AJI sues police for allowing attack on `Tempo' office
AJI sues police for allowing attack on `Tempo' office
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) has filed a lawsuit
against police for allowing the Tempo newsmagazine office to be
attacked and its journalists assaulted.
The suit was filed in the Central Jakarta District Court on
Wednesday. It named the National Police chief, the Jakarta Police
chief, the Central Jakarta Police chief and the Menteng Police
Subprecinct chief as defendants. AJI is seeking a public apology.
The case centered on the mob attack of the Tempo office on Jl.
Proklamasi, Central Jakarta on March 8, and at the Menteng police
station afterwards.
About 200 people, led by supporters of tycoon Tomy Winata,
attacked the office to demand Tempo retract an article implying
Tomy may have played a role in the recent fire that destroyed
Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta.
Dozens of police officers stood around as the mob attacked the
office.
Some of the protesters then forced chief editor Bambang
Harymurti and other journalists to escort them to the Menteng
police station to "settle" the case.
In the police station, the journalists continued to be
harassed. Chief editor Bambang Harymurti and journalists Ahmad
Taufik, Abdul Manan and Karania Dharmasaputra were assaulted.
AJI committee for the defense of press freedom spokesman Bayu
Wicaksono said police had violated Law No.2/2002 on Police, which
states police have a duty to maintain security and order, enforce
the law and must protect and serve the people.
The police were also accused of violating article 7 (d) of Law
No.9/1998 on the Freedom of Speech, which says that the
government apparatus is obliged to provide security in the
implementation of the freedom of speech; and article 4 of Press
Law no. 40/1999, which guarantees press freedom.
AJI said the violence may scare journalists and hamper the
right of the people to information.
AJI asked the court to order the police to apologize to the
journalists through six television stations, five radio stations
and five print media.
The plaintiff also demanded the police include the press law
in its curriculum at the Police Academy and the Police Staff
College (PTIK).
Tomy had earlier reported Tempo to the police for libel, and
Bambang and Taufik have been named suspects in the case.
The police have also named four of Tomy's bodyguards suspects
in relation to the attack.