Public Order officers sued

Public Order officers sued

JAKARTA: The Independent Journalists Alliance (AJI) of Jakarta
chapter launched legal action in the Central Jakarta District
Court on Tuesday against Governor Sutiyoso, the East Jakarta
Mayor and the East Jakarta public order office after public order
officers allegedly intimidated a journalist on March 27.

The organization demanded the accused apologize to Eddy
Hariyadi, a reporter of the Warta Kota daily newspaper, in five
newspapers and on two private television stations over the
incident.

During the incident, the public order officers allegedly
intimidated Eddy, threatening him during his coverage of an
eviction operation in Cakung area, East Jakarta.

The alliance also demanded the accused pay Rp 100 million
(US$11,560) in compensation to an independent organization.

The money would be used to buy shirts reading "Don't Hit
Journalists", which would be given to all public order officers
in the city.

AJI had earlier contacted the accused to get an apology for
Eddy. However, there was no response from the administration. --
JP