PDI-P faces lawsuit after assault on reporter

PDI-P faces lawsuit after assault on reporter

BANDUNG (JP): Pikiran Rakyat daily plans to file a lawsuit
against the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) in Purwakarta on Monday after an internal dispute
between party members led to an assault on a reporter.

Chief editor H. AM. Ruslan said in Bandung on Tuesday that his
office would sue the party's security guards for the arrest and
beating of Nuryaman, the reporter assigned to cover the dispute.

The daily also demanded the party's West Java chapter
apologize for the incident and discipline its security guards in
Purwakarta.

"We condemn the anarchy. Our reporter revealed his
identification but still the party's security guards assaulted
and detained him for about one hour," an enraged Ruslan said.

He said the matter would only be closed after the party's West
Java chapter apologized and the case was settled in court.

Purwakarta Police acknowledged the report made by Nuryaman. A
doctor said the reporter suffered injuries consistent with a
beating, including a bloody nose and badly bruised face.

West Java Police chief Maj. Gen. Adang Darajatun said that
even without a formal report from Nuryaman, the police would take
legal steps against the attackers. "The action is a crime."

The secretary of the party's West Java chapter, Iwan Rosadi,
said the party took full responsibility for the attack. "We will
approach Pikiran Rakyat to deal with this."

Explanations from the party's security guards in Purwakarta
are also needed, he added.

Two rival groups claiming to be security guards (satgas) of
the party were involved in a fierce clash before the assault on
the reporter.

Meanwhile in Surabaya, East Java, a dispute between 25
reporters and local legislators from the PDI Perjuangan faction
continued on Tuesday with fresh accusations against reporters as
troublemakers and scandalmongers.

Provincial legislative council speaker M. Basuki, who is an
official of the party's Surabaya branch, cut short an interview
between five reporters and the chairman of Commission B of the
legislative council, saying, "You reporters are all
provocateurs".

Basuki walked out when reporters asked him to clarify the
statement.

Reporters have vowed to boycott all activities of the party's
legislators.

The dispute started last week when the legislative council
announced its plan to curb media access to legislators.

Reporters said on Monday they would file suit against
legislator Adrianus Harsono of the party. He reportedly accused
the reporters of unethical cooperation with provincial
administration officials to discredit the legislators.
(25/nur/sur)