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)