Second reporter from daily in Central Sulawesi attacked

Irvan NR, Palu

A reporter from Nuansa Pos daily in Palu, Central Sulawesi, was injured in an alleged attack by the driver of Donggala Regency Legislative Council Speaker Ridwan Yalidjama.

The victim, Natsir Said, is receiving medical treatment and is reportedly vomiting blood as a result of the attack on Saturday.

On May 9, another journalist, Nasir Sarro, from the same newspaper was injured after about 40 people stormed the newspaper's office on Jl. Pulau Halmahera in Palu.

Discussing the latest incident, Natsir said on Monday he was beaten by the council speaker's driver, who he identified as Jager, while covering a plenary meeting at the council building.

Jager, along with five other suspects, allegedly assailed the victim as he was heading for a bathroom in the building.

Natsir said he attempted to flee but Jager's accomplices caught him and tied up his hands, while the driver allegedly punched him in the face and stomach.

"Everything went black and I fell down," he told journalists at his office.

After being released by his attackers, Natsir fled on his motorcycle back to the newspaper's office, where he began vomiting blood.

Nuansa Pos chief editor Andi Attas Abdullah said on Monday the attack was believed to be related to articles Natsir recently wrote about the Donggala council.

The articles included one about a room in the council building that is often used to host a traditional dance called the Dero. The dance is performed by forming a circle while holding hands.

The newspaper also published a news report about who would take over the leadership of the council after the April 5 legislative election. The Nuansa Pos article suggested a military figure was likely to replace Ridwan Yalidjama as speaker.

"The article was based on reliable sources from the Donggala council," Abdullah said.

He denounced the attack on Natsir at the council building and demanded the Central Sulawesi Police investigate the incident and arrest all those involved.

"It cannot be ignored. A matter of a difference in opinion should not be settled with muscle rather than the brain. This could destroy the young democracy in Central Sulawesi," the chief editor said.

Yalidjama denied any knowledge of the attack and said the incident was a criminal act that had "nothing to do with me".

He said that anyone involved in the attack should face the law, included his driver if he was indeed involved.

However, the council speaker accused the Nuansa Pos of publishing articles that did not meet journalistic standards.

He said at least two articles run by the newspaper recently unfairly portrayed the council in a negative light.

"Many of the Nuansa Pos' articles are not balanced," Yalidjama said.