Indonesian journalists group reports 40 acts of violence committed against media workers in past 12 months

SEAPA Alert: Indonesian journalists group reports 40 acts of
violence committed against media workers in past 12 months
10 August 2010
Source: AJI

From August 2009 to August 2010, the Allansi Jurnalis Independen
(Alliance of Independent Journalists or AJI) documented 40 cases of
violence against journalists in  Indonesia. Compared to the 38
cases recorded in 2008-2009, there has clearly been an increase in
the number of cases.

The most brutal type of violence committed against Indonesian
journalists is assault - 12 cases. Meanwhile, there are five
assault cases perpetrated by a mob and three by mass organizations
and one case done by university students.

Threat and intimidation have also been used extensively against
Indonesian media workers. This year, there are eight cases. Mass
organizations committed three such offenses, politicians and
unknown individuals were each responsible for two cases while one
case was perpetrated by a mob.

There were six instances of censorship, all committed by local
government officials, including personnel from local hospitals.
Legal repression, in the form of the filing of defamation
suits--whether criminal or civil, or subpoena issued to witnesses,
occured five times. Members of the police were involved in three
cases, while politicians and private citizens filed one case each.

Confiscation of equipment occured four times -  with bureaucrats,
private security personnel, members of mass organizations and an
unknown individual each committing one violent act.

Meanwhile, these incidents of violence occured in a number of
provinces in Indonesia. Jakarta represents the highest number
(seven cases), followed by North Sumatera, East Java and Yogyakarta
(four cases each). Papua and West Nusa Tenggara are also places
where violence against journalists are commonly committed (three
cases each). The level of danger in the last two provinces,
however, should not be overlooked as assaults and intimidations are
rampant here.

In terms of scale and form of violence against journalists, AJI
identified hostile mass organizations as the leading enemy of press
freedom in 2010.

In 2010 (up to press time), there were 10 hostile mass
organizations which used violence against journalists. Some of the
cases involved members of the Islamic Defender Front (FPI) against
"Lampu Hijau" reporter Ocvtabryan Purwo during a liquor raid in the
Petamburan area on 27 May 2009. At that time, FPI along with the
Anti-Communist Front also intimidated "Jawa Pos" after the biggest
newspaper in East Java published a biography of Soemarsono, former
member of the Indonesian Communist Party and a key figure in the 10
November Incident in Surabaya.

Moreover, members of the Hisbullah squad from Sunan Bonang division
also intimidated a Solo Radio crew in Surakarta on 14 September
2009. TV One journalists Air Setyawan and Eko Joko Sarjono were
prohibited from reporting a terrorist-related incident in Jatiasih
Bekasi 12 August 2009 by another mass organization.

The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia calls on
all parties to refrain from committing violent acts against the
press. Press Law no 40/1999 stipulates the Right to Reply as the
proper legal channel for any parties to voice their concerns. If
the media fails to fulfill the Right to Reply, the Press Law
suggests that the complaint be directed to the Press Council.

The Press Law also imposes imprisonment to anyone hampering the
press and its members in carrying out their function to seek,
manage and impart information.

Jakarta, 6 August 2010