Journalists protest beating of photographers

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)