Policeman abuses newsman

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)