Papua journalists raise money for injured reporter

Journalists in Papua have raised more than Rp 15.5 million (US$1,767) to care for fellow journalist Banjir Ambarita, who was hospitalized after he was stabbed four times by unknown assailants on Thursday.

However, Banjir’s medical bills might top Rp 40 million, according to a journalist.

“And that's just for the surgery,” fundraising coordinator Robert Isidorus Vanwi said in Papua on Tuesday.

Banjir, who reported on alleged rapes perpetrated by police officers in the province, was recuperating at Marthen Indey Hospital.

Papua Police chief Insp.Gen. Bekto Suprapto previously said that the police formed three teams to investigate the stabbing.

“We will bring the perpetrators to court - the sooner the better,” Bekto said as reported by kompas.com.