Officer punches female reporter

Officer punches female reporter

YOGYAKARTA: A female reporter of the Jakarta-based D&R
magazine was punched on the side of the neck by a member of
Bantul regent Col. Sri Roso Sudarmo's police squad yesterday.

The reporter, Idayani, was among the dozens of journalists
trying to get close to the controversial regent for comments on a
canceled beach resort project.

The incident happened when the security guards forcibly
repulsed journalists who chased Sri Roso to his waiting car after
a closed-door meeting on the project.

Some police officers then shouted at the journalists for not
supporting the Rp 100 billion (US$42 million) Parangtritis resort
project.

Enraged by the incident, local journalists plan to protest
over it.

The controversial project was canceled by the provincial
government following strong environmental and cultural objections
raised by Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and the public.

But Sri Roso insists that the project is feasible. (23)