Journalists protest against violence

Journalists protest against violence

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Around 120 reporters from various media
based in the North Sumatra capital of Medan marched to the
provincial legislative council on Monday to protest against
violence committed by members of a youth organization.

The reporters, under the group title Press Solidarity against
Violence, waved scores of banners reading, among other things,
Use Rights to Reply Peacefully, not Violently.

The protest was a reaction against violence committed by
members of Communication Forum for Children of Retired Armed
Forces Officers (FKPPI).

On Saturday some 150 members of the North Sumatra branch of
FKPPI ransacked the editorial office of the Waspada daily and
attacked a member of the editorial staff, following a report on
an attack of the organization chairman.

The journalists of five different journalist organizations
said they objected to the violence committed by the youth
organization. The journalists also demanded that the police take
legal steps against members of the organization, who were
involved in the action.

"Whatever their reasons, destroying the Waspada editorial
office and beating up one of the editorial members is against the
law. Violence is being used to terrorize the press," said Choking
Susilo Sakeh, chairman of the Medan branch of the Alliance of
Independent Journalists (AJI).

Chairman of Commission V of the legislature Hanif Ray who
received the protesting journalists said that such action by the
organization could not be condoned. (39/sur)