Thursday, September 09, 2010 11:29 AM
Follow us on
Follow us on
As media circles gather to commemorate National Press Day in Palembang, five journalists in Medan were reported to have been held captive following their allegations of medical malpractice.
The five journalists, identified as Ahmad Fendi Lubis (Metro 24 Jam), Reza (Pos Metro), Al Amin (Metro Aceh), Ahmad Zulfikar (MNC TV) and Wahyu Maulana (SCTV), were held for 30 minutes by Adam Malik Hospital management.
The hospital management was reportedly unhappy with journalists chasing stories over alleged malpractice that had led to infant death.
The five journalists reported the case to the local police station.
The Medan Journalist Forum appealed to the Press Council to provide advocacy.
“We are worried a person or group of people are playing around with this case for their advantage, which is beyond our power,” forum chairman Arif Rifian said.
The incident follows violent situations journalists in North Sumatra have been involved in, with the most notable case being the murder of Elyudin Telaumbauna from Berita Sore Medan in 2005.
“We condemn any form of violence against journalists and criminalization of press freedom. These acts will continue if no efforts are made to stop them,” Arif said.
Atmawijaya, from the hospital‘s public relations department, denied having held the journalists, saying they were only asking the journalists for clarification as they had not secured permission to take photographs in the hospital.
The incident comes in the wake of a media gathering in Palembang, South Sumatra, marked by the official opening of Indonesian School of Journalists by Governor Alex Noerdin on Monday.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to give a lecture to the students on Tuesday.
Similar journalism schools will be established in Pekanbaru Semarang, Jakarta, Samarinda and Makassar.
School director Zulkarimen Nasution said the academic program had gained support from the UN, which through UNESCO will monitor the progress of the school.
“The school is part of the UN recommendation to improve journalism so that journalists can work professionally.”
Communication and Information Technology Minister Tifatul Sembiring urged Indonesian journalists to defend their long-held values and characters now that they enjoy unprecedented freedom of the press.
“We want to encourage journalists to strive to remain honest, just, fair, and side with the people, help to fight corruption and ensure balanced flow of information.”
In a separate development, officials of Banyumas administration in Central Java have reportedly complained that bogus journalists were rife in the region, engaging in extortion and blackmail.
“They will say they are from media in Jakarta. They will make up questions with prejudices and will end up asking for transport money,” said Wahyono, from the administration’s public relations, on Monday.
Wahyono said some officials would give in to the extortion.
“Not because they are scared, but because they are irritated and want to be left alone. We will report them to the police, if they do not stop their conduct. It’s very annoying and disturbs our concentration.”
Aris Munandar, Cilacap administration spokesman, said bogus journalists had been using corruption issues in the regency to blackmail certain officials.
Khoerudin Islam, chairman of Indonesian Journalist Association (PWI) of Banyumas office, recommended the PWI and local police coordinate to tackle the affairs.
Agus Maryono in Purwokerto contributed to the article
