Martial arts for Irian journalists

Martial arts for Irian journalists

JAKARTA (JP): Journalists working in Irian Jaya have been advised to take lessons in martial arts to protect themselves against beatings from officials, one of the occupational hazards increasingly encountered in their line of work nowadays.

The Irian Jaya chapter of the Association of Indonesian Journalists said that, this year, there have already been two incidents of officials beating journalists because they did not like what they read in the newspapers.

There were four such incidents in all of 1994, chapter chairman Dahlar T. Umar told the Antara news agency.

Dahlar said he is recommending that all journalists working in Irian Jaya equip themselves with self defense skills in addition to their reporting and writing skills.

The latest beating was inflicted on Cendrawasih Pos journalist Ifan Mohammad by an official of the Irian Jaya Transmigration Office on Feb. 8, he said.

Of the four cases of beatings reported to the association's Irian Jaya chapter last year, two were settled out of court. The other two were settled in court.

The head of the Manokwari Agriculture Office, who was prosecuted for beating a journalist last year, was sentenced to three days imprisonment by the Manokwari District Court.

Dahlar also appealed to all journalists in the province to maintain their accuracy in their reporting, always checking and rechecking with their sources, to avoid getting into trouble. (emb)