Police reported over violence against press and students
Police reported over violence against press and students
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung
A local newspaper officially reported to police the maltreatment
of its photographer by police during a violent demonstration in
Bandung, West Java, on Thursday, as dozens of fellow journalists
marched to denounce the incident.
The protesting journalists threatened to boycott the coverage
of events concerning Bandung police headquarters until firm
action was taken against its personnel involved in attacking
demonstrators and a photojournalist with the Pikiran Rakyat
daily, Dudi Sugandi.
The violence erupted when hundreds of students from various
universities in the province clashed with police on Wednesday
during a protest against the rise of utility prices. At least 23
people, including Dudi and a police officer, were injured.
Police officers beat Dudi and seized his camera, as well as
prevented other journalists from covering the violent scuffle.
Dindin S. Maolani, a lawyer for the newspaper, accused the
police of committing at least two crimes during the clash, which
was sparked when the students attempted to force their way into
the West Java legislature compound after being denied permission
to meet senior councillors.
"They (police) have violated the Criminal Code by maltreating
the demonstrators. They have also obstructed the freedom of
journalists to obtain information, a crime that breaches the
Press Law," Dindin said.
He was speaking after accompanying Dudi in presenting his case
against the police to the Bandung military police office, where
the victim also provided a medical report of his injuries from
the private Borromeus Hospital.
A similar lawsuit against the police would also be submitted
soon by the Bandung-based Student Executive Board (BEM) over the
beating of its members during Wednesday's clash.
Andreas Manalu, coordinator of the BEM, said lawyers from the
local Legal Aid Institute (LBH) had expressed support for the
lawsuit.
The students also demanded the police to compensate for
damaging a truck they had rented for the demonstration.
Most of the injured students suffered wounds to the head as a
result of police beating them with sticks.
One of the students from Bandung Islamic University, Affan,
had to undergo minor surgery at Borromeus Hospital for a broken
bone.
"Affan has fainted several times. According to doctors, he was
beaten with a hard tool," said Indra, BEM leader of Padjajaran
University.
Meanwhile, around 70 journalists from various print and
electronic media protested at Bandung police headquarters to
condemn the police's repressive and violent measures against them
and the student demonstrators.
"The police are not professional in facing journalists. They
looked fearful that the public might learn about what actually
happened when they violently pushed back the protesting
students," said Sulhan Syafi'i, a protest leader.
The journalists demanded that Bandung Police chief Sr. Comr.
Hendra Sukmana apologize publicly through both the print and
electronic media, and punish his officers harshly over the
violence.
"The police must also compensate for damages to my video
camera caused by water cannon spray during the clash," said Rudi
Setiawan, a local correspondent for the private TPI television
station.
In response, Hendra refused to apologize and defended the
police officers' actions, saying it was in line with security
procedures.
"What apology? We have to examine first if it is true that the
police beat students, confiscated a camera and prevented
reporters from getting information," he said.
Nor would the police pay the demanded compensation for the
damaged camera. "TPI is rich. It should repair the camera
itself," Hendra added.
Nevertheless, he said the police were ready to face lawsuits
from the media and students over the incident.