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Maluku journalists surround court building
Journalists returned to Ambon District Court on Monday, surrounding the building in protest over the recent violent handling of a fellow colleague
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ournalists returned to Ambon District Court on Monday, surrounding the building in protest over the recent violent handling of a fellow colleague.
The rally nearly turned unruly when Ambon and Lease Islands Police Operational chief Comr. Manurung, seized the loudspeakers from one of the protesters.
Manurung ordered the rally to stop. “I order you to end the rally,” yelled Manurung.
Tension escalated when defiant protesters seized back the loudspeaker, but the police’s anti-riot unit intervened immediately to secure the situation by forming a blockade.
Annoyed, the protesters later blocked the two main entrances to the courthouse, but police forcefully opened the padlocks, causing the former to vent their anger by scrawling graffiti and pasting posters on the fence.
Protest coordinator Rudi Fofid, deputy chief editor of the Suara Maluku daily, said journalists staged the protest because the court was protecting judge Tengku Oyong.
Oyong prohibited journalists from covering a graft trial last week, which later caused a journalist to be beaten up by court employees.
“He must explain transparently to the media in Maluku why he prohibited journalists from covering and taking pictures of the graft case,” said Rudi.
According to Rudi, the Supreme Court should re-evaluate Oyong’s position in light of his recent actions against freedom of speech.
“We suspect that Oyong is involved in a conspiracy in the case because he prevented all journalists from covering the case,” said Rudi.
In Bandung, West Java, a number of journalists staged a rally at Bandung District Court on Monday, in solidarity with their fellow colleagues in Ambon.
“We urge authorities to refrain from resorting to violence during disputes with the media,” said Rally coordinator Iwan Gumintang.
The rally first took place at the Gedung Sate building at around 9:30 a.m. before continuing to the courthouse, where they carried dead rats, slaughtered a chicken and tossed small coins at the courthouse.
“We strongly criticize violence against journalists anywhere they are carrying out their journalistic duties. We hope that every party respects journalists who are carrying out their duties because they are protected by the law,” said Iwan.
