Policeman abuses newsman

AMBON, Maluku: Provincial police chief Triwibowo Subroto apologized to local journalists who were harassed by a police officer earlier this month.

The reporters were covering the opening of a Koran reading contest on Oct. 14 when Sgt. Major Soveline Hadi Al Idrus ordered them to leave, reported Antara yesterday.

Al Idrus reportedly became enraged when a reporter reminded him they were just doing their jobs. "I know you're reporters, but don't try anything funny. Who do you think you are anyway?"

Al Idrus is an officer of the precinct overseeing Ambon and Lease islands.

"If necessary, I could report you all to Minister of Information. I could say you're communists for trying to defy police officers," the policeman said.

Yesterday, Triwibowo attempted to appease the journalists by promising to punish the police officer. He did not explain what kind of punishment he had in mind. (swe)