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.