Sultan discusses reporter's death

YOGYAKARTA: About 60 local journalists met with Sultan Hamengku Buwono X here on Wednesday night to discuss the progress of their investigation into their colleague's death on Aug. 13.

They expressed their dismay with the police and their probe into the murder of Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin. The authorities claim to have clues, though the journalists doubt that their investigation has gotten anywhere.

Syafruddin, a reporter for the Yogyakarta-based Bernas daily, is believed to have been murdered by hired assassins in relation to his scathing reports on corruption within the Bantul regency government.

The journalists told the sultan about their concern that the authorities would cover up the affair, Antara reported yesterday.

"We are afraid the murder will become a bad precedent in the journalism profession," one of the reporters, Putu, told the Sultan.

The sultan promised to act as a mediator between the journalists and the police. (pan)