Journalists protest beating of photographers

JAKARTA (JP): More than 200 journalists staged on Wednesday a protest at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) against the beating by security personnel of three photo journalists during a student demonstration on Jl. Imam Bonjol in Central Jakarta.

The journalists -- who were there to cover the Assembly's Special Session -- demanded the Armed Forces (ABRI) leadership apologize and order an investigation into the incident.

The reporters gathered at a foyer of the building, staging a free speech forum and holding banners that read, among other things, "Press condemns beatings," "Armed Forces anarchistic" and "Stop violence against journalists."

They also walked out of a meeting with ABRI chief spokesman Maj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif, representing ABRI Chief Gen. Wiranto, as he delivered the military leadership's apology. They demanded that Wiranto himself apologize.

Head of the military think-tank National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar tried to appease the reporters, promising the Armed Forces would certainly get to the bottom of the incident. "Please trust us," he asked of the pressmen.

Eddy Hasbi of Kompas daily, Saptono of Antara news agency and Tatan Agus of Gatra weekly were covering the clashes between security personnel and student protesters on Jl. Imam Bonjol on Wednesday evening.

It was then that they were beaten up by some troops.

Saptono, who suffered serious injuries to his head, was still being treated in the St. Carolus Hospital while the others have been discharged from the hospital.

The incident drew protests from the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI), legislators and the National Commission of Human Rights alike.

Senior journalist Parni Hadi strongly protested the beating, and demanded that the Armed Forces investigate it. He also called on fellow journalists not to take unnecessary risks. (rms)