Police allowed 'Tempo' attack: AJI lawyers
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In their closing statement, lawyers for the Jakarta chapter of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) accused the police on Wednesday of allowing the mob of hooligans to attack the office and journalists of Tempo weekly magazine.
The lawyers, grouped under the Committee of Defenders of Press Freedom (KPKP), told the Central Jakarta District Court that the defense put forth by the police's legal team at the trial had backfired in favor of the plaintiff.
KPKP coordinator Azas Tigor Nainggolan underlined that the police had claimed that the violence against journalist Abdul Manan and chief editor Bambang Harymurti were spontaneous acts and therefore unavoidable.
"Abdul Manan was assaulted at the Tempo office, while Bambang was assaulted at the Central Jakarta Police office much later. The police failed to carry out their duty to protect the people, because they let the violence occur spontaneously several times," Tigor said.
The defendants in the lawsuit are the National Police chief, the Jakarta Police chief, the Central Jakarta Police chief and the Menteng Police chief.
The suit accuses the officers of negligence of duty in failing to stop the attack, which took place on March 8.
Led by David Tjioe, a group of people who claimed to be supporters of businessman Tomy Winata protested an article published in Tempo, which they claimed insinuated that Tomy had a role in the fire that burned down Tanah Abang textile market in February. David had been exonerated by a separate court from charges of assault against the Tempo journalists.
In support of the accusation, Tigor also pointed out that the Central Jakarta Police chief issued a brief on March 7 ordering officers to observe the demonstration, while the demonstrators sent a letter informing the police of the planned rally only on March 8, a day after the chief's orders were issued to the force.
"The journalists suffered from physical abuse and trauma from the violence, while they were denied protection from the police -- who are supposed to ensure the people's safety," he added.
Presiding Judge Iskandar Tjake adjourned the hearing of the suit until Sept. 23, when the court is to hand down its decision.