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.