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)