Media boycott PDI-P news

BANDUNG: Journalists in the Bandung Journalists Solidarity group have agreed to boycott all news concerning the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) following the alleged torture of a reporter from Pikiran Rakyat daily by the party's security guards in Purwakarta.

The decision was made on Wednesday after some 200 journalists failed to get clarification from the party's faction at the provincial legislative council.

The reporters, who represent the printed and electronic media, said they were disappointed with the beating of Nuryaman, which they called "an arbitrary action".

Enton Supriyatna, the group's coordinator, said the incident reflected PDI Perjuangan's liking for "street justice".

"This (the incident) indicates that PDI Perjuangan is not a big and good political party."

Two days after the beating, no PDI Perjuangan officials had come to Pikiran Rakyat daily to apologize.

Nuryaman was allegedly assaulted while reporting an internal spat between two groups of the party's followers in Purwakarta on Monday.

Pikiran Rakyat chief editor H. AM. Ruslan has said his office would sue the party's security guards for arresting and beating up his reporter. (25/sur)