Press protests TNI bias for 'SCTV'

Journalists who are based in Lhokseumawe boycotted on Wednesday a press briefing at the military operation center in protest over unfair treatment they received from military operation commander Brig. Gen. Bambang Darmono.

No journalists turned up for the daily morning and afternoon press briefings at the military operation center on Wednesday,

The protest followed the surrender of American journalist William Nessen to the military on Tuesday, which was exclusively covered by private television station SCTV.

All journalists were given a tip-off earlier that day that Bambang would pick up Nessen. The freelancer had defied a deadline set by the military to leave the rebel base.

Journalists were preparing themselves for the much-awaited surrender at the military operation command, when Bambang prevented them from going with him to the meeting point with Nessen in Paya Dua village, Nisam district.

The journalists became even more disappointed after they later learned that Bambang gave the chance to SCTV to cover the event.

A journalist who requested anonymity said it was not the first time that Bambang gave SCTV reporters preferential treatment. -- JP