Journalists condemn assault on cameramen, photographers

Journalists condemn assault on cameramen, photographers

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Journalists' associations condemned on Tuesday the assault of
four journalists by the police during a clash between police
officers and anti-U.S. protesters on Monday.

The Association of Indonesian Television Journalists (IJTI)
and the Association of Independent Journalists (AJI) agreed that
what the police had done to the four journalists was an attack on
press freedom.

The Indonesian Photo Journalists regretted the assault and
said that the city police should be held responsible for the
incident.

The four victims were two cameraman, Medo Malianza from Metro
TV and Agung Nugroho from Indosiar, and two photographers, Dadang
from Reuters and Lamhot Aritonang from Pantura daily.

The incident happened when the police dispersed protesters in
front of the House of Representatives/People's Consultative
Assembly building by using a water canon. Things became chaotic,
as the police beat people and also vandalized some vehicles.

As Medo shot a scene in which police officers were damaging a
car, an officer turned to him, shouting, "Don't take that
picture!" Medo stopped, but some other officers then forced him
to hand over the cassette and beat him, according to a statement
signed by IJTI chairman, Haris Jauhari.

"The police took arbitrary action, they were arrogant and they
acted against democracy," Jauhari said.

What the police did could be seen as a violation of Press Law
40/1999, which guarantees press freedom and protects journalists
who are on duty.

An apology from city police chief Insp.Gen. Sofjan Jacoeb was
not sufficient, Jauhari said.

"The problem is, censorship was exercised by security
officers ... which deprived the public of the right to
information," he said.

Both IJTI and AJI urged the police to take legal action
against the officers who were involved in the assault.

Sofjan handed over the cassettes belonging to Metro TV and
Indosiar to Metro TV chief editor Andy F. Noya, and to chief of
the Press Council, Atmakusumah Astraatmadja, representing
Indosiar later on Tuesday.

In return, Sofjan received a copy of Press Law No. 40/1999, a
book on protection for journalists and a poster depicting a
journalist covering an event who was beaten by security officers.

"I have established a team consisting of police intelligence
personnel, the Military Police and the inspector general to
investigate the assault of the journalists," he said.

He also promised to inform his officers about the Press Law.

The ceremony, which took place at the Jakarta Media Center on
Jl. Kebon Sirih in Central Jakarta, was witnessed by the chairman
of the Newspaper Publishers Union, Leo Batubara, National Police
spokesman Brig. Gen. Saleh Saaf and city police spokesman Sr.
Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam.

According to Anton, three officers had been questioned for
allegedly beating the journalists. He said they could be charged
with article 406 on vandalism, which carries a maximum penalty of
two years and eight months in jail or a Rp 4,500 fine.

If proven guilty, they could face possible dismissal or other
administrative sanctions, he said.