Journalist assaulted for alleged slander

Journalist assaulted for alleged slander

Yemris Fointuna, Kupang

Claiming he had been defamed, JO, a councillor on the East Nusa
Tenggara provincial council, launched a gratuitous assault on
Tuesday on Benny Djahang, a journalist with the Pos Kupang daily.

The assault took place right in front of the assembled
councillors and journalists who were attending a plenary session
in the council building.

The incident happened after Benny reported in the daily on
Monday that JO, two of his fellow councillors, and 21 civil
servants had been apprehended during joint police and military
raids on Saturday night while frequenting a number of different
entertainment spots in Kupang.

The story made the front page in the daily on Monday, under
the headline, "Three councillors and 21 civil servants arrested
by security personnel: Some hiding in toilets."

None of them were found to have taken drugs or engaged in sex
with prostitutes, and were released shortly after being arrested.
However, JO, a councillor with the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI-P), felt that the story tarnished his image.

"The story has invaded my privacy. My wife was shocked after
reading the story. She was scared that I had taken drugs or had
raped someone," JO told a group of journalists on the sidelines
of the plenary session on Tuesday.

He suddenly approached Djahang and addressed him
threateningly: "Did you write the story? You know what, my wife
almost fainted after reading it."

JO, a well-built councillor, poked Djahang in the chest and
then grabbed him by the neck. "I'm not afraid to die today. Die
today or die tomorrow, it's all the same," he said to Djahang. He
left after throttling Djahang for few seconds. As a result of the
assault, Djahang suffered reddening and bruising to the neck.