PWI defends journalist

PWI defends journalist

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: The local branch of the
Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) has filed a protest
against a police officer who reportedly threatened to shoot a
local correspondent in the head.

Antara reported that Lt. Sud had allegedly threatened to shoot
Surya daily correspondent Hermansyah Pani while he was covering a
demonstration here Wednesday.

According to a report filed by Hermansyah, the police
lieutenant threatened to shoot him while he was taking
photographs of the demonstration.

"If you take photos I'll shoot you in the head," Hermansyah
wrote in his report, citing Sud's threat.

Despite having explained that he was a journalist, the
officer, who was standing three meters away, took out his
revolver and pointed it at Hermansyah.

As cited in the report, several other journalists witnessed
the incident.

The association's secretary, Heri Suparman, said officers
assigned to the field should be briefed by their officers and
given a better understanding of the work of journalists.

"Security officers should not be arrogant in carrying out
their duty. We are all responsible in our different fields and
one must respect the other," he said. (mds)