Reporter's murder remains unsolved

YOGYAKARTA: The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) believes Bernas journalist, Fuad Muhammad Syafrudin, was murdered in August because of his articles about corruption within the Bantul regency government.

R.B. Subiantoro, chief of the association's education section, said Yogyakarta journalists' reports have strengthened his assumption that Syafrudin was murdered because he did his job.

Syafrudin was attacked on Aug. 13 by an unidentified group at his home in Bantul, and died in hospital three days later.

The Jakarta-based journalists' association plans to issue a statement of concern over the authorities' failure to solve the crime, Antara reported.

Syafrudin's articles reported allegations that the Bantul regent, Col. Sri Roso Sudarmo, offered Rp 1 billion (US$425,000) to an influential Jakarta-based foundation to pave the way for his recent re-election. (pan)