Journalists attacked during drug raid

Journalists attacked during drug raid

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra

Several police officers and two journalists here were attacked
during an drug raid on a house in a military housing complex in
Medan, North Sumatra province.

Reporter Edi Setiawan and cameraman Ashar Pungkas, both
working for Indosiar television, filed a complaint with the Medan
Police on Saturday over the attack that occurred while they were
covering the operation.

The journalists said that around a dozen men bullied them
during the police raid early on Friday at the housing complex of
the Bukit Barisan Military Command in Medan.

The attack followed the arrest of three people -- two
suspected children of local military officers and a civil servant
-- during an earlier raid on Meliala Hotel on Thursday.

One of the three detained suspects was identified as Abdi
Tarigan, the 42-year-old son of a Army colonel, who was shot in
the leg while trying to escape arrest, police sources said on
Saturday.

They said the two other detainees confessed to have received
drugs from Tarigan. The police seized the drugs -- two packages
of shabu-shabu (crystal amphetamine) and four ecstasy pills -- as
evidence from the suspects.

Later on Friday, around 10 police officers launched a further
raid on Tarigan's house in the military complex at 1 a.m, during
which they confiscated drugs and processing equipment.

"The three suspects and the hard evidence are being secured at
Medan Police Station," said First Insp. Eko Sulistiyo, who led
the raid.

Just minutes later, a group of men in the complex attacked the
police and the two journalists at the scene.

Edi Irawan and Ashar Pungkas Hadi had to be taken to hospital
to be treated for injuries to the nose and arm respectively
during the incident.

The assault also damaged two cars, belonging to the police and
the journalists, and Ashar's TV camera as the attackers pelted
stones at them.

However, there were no reports of injuries on the part of the
police thanks to the help by a commander at the housing complex,
who immediately provided security.

During the incident, the police were reported to only take a
defensive stance to avoid a clash.

Edi, speaking to fellow journalists in Medan, named Tolek TS
as one of the attackers.

Edi said he and Ashar would sue the attackers and urged the
police to arrest them.

"I will prosecute them (the suspects). I will also demand
compensation for the damage to the car and camera worth Rp 6
million (US$705)," he told The Jakarta Post.

First Insp. M. Arifin, who received the journalists, promised
his office would follow up their complaint.

"We will look into the case thoroughly and arrest the
perpetrators and prosecute them," he said.

Fellow journalists in Medan condemned the bullying of their
two friends. "However the attackers are, there is no reason not
to take action against them. Police must investigate the incident
thoroughly, even though it has taken place in a military housing
complex," said Darma Lubis, who chairs the Medan branch of the
Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).