Second reporter from daily in Central Sulawesi attacked

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.