Cikeusik cameraman received death threats: Komnas HAM

A man, identified only by the initial A, who recorded on video the violent lynching of three Ahmadiyah followers in Cikeusik, Banten, and then uploaded the footage to the Internet, has received death threats, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) says.

Komnas HAM deputy chairman Yosep Adi Prasetyo said he had obtained this information when the commission brought A to the National Police Headquarters for questioning as witness in the incident.

Yosep said National Police Detectives chief Comr. Gen. Ito Sumardi had asked the commission not to bring A to the press.

"This is for A's own safety. We've received information he has become a target so it would be better for him to remain anonymous," Ito said as quoted by Yosep.

Ito had also allegedly said the threats came from several parties. However, Ito did not detail which parties these were.

"This information is from the intelligence unit. Police have told us not to show A to the public," Yosep said, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Komnas HAM had initially planned to hold a press conference at its office to let the press talk directly to A regarding details of the Cikeusik incident.