'RCTI' reporter files complaint

'RCTI' reporter files complaint

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: A reporter of Jakarta-based RCTI
television station said the Kendari police seized by force a film
on which he had captured a land eviction on March 1.

Paterai Andi Tjulang, the correspondent, told Antara he had
written a complaint about the incident to Southeast Sulawesi
governor, the minister of home affairs, the National Police chief
and the Association of Indonesian Journalists.

Paterai he said he was filming the land eviction in Unaaha,
the capital of Kendari regency, on March 1, when police officers
on the site snatched the camera off him.

"They took the cassette out and I was detained for three hours
at the Unaaha Police Precinct for three hours. They released me
and returned the camera, but kept the cassette," he said, adding
that the officers simply said they were following orders from the
regency chief.

Paterai said he had met with the regency secretary who told
him that the administration would replace the cassette with a new
one. "I'm insisting on the return of the original cassette
because it has a news value," he said.

The regency office declined to comment on the allegation,
Antara said. (emb)