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Jokowi defends vandalism of tvOne office
Public anger: A man looks at the tvOne television office building in Yogyakarta on Thursday
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Public anger: A man looks at the tvOne television office building in Yogyakarta on Thursday. Angry supporters of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) damaged the tvOne building on Thursday after the private television station owned by Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie accused presidential candidate Joko âJokowiâ Widodo and his supporters of being communists. (JP/Bambang Muryanto) (PDI-P) damaged the tvOne building on Thursday after the private television station owned by Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie accused presidential candidate Joko âJokowiâ Widodo and his supporters of being communists. (JP/Bambang Muryanto)
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span class="inline inline-none">Public anger: A man looks at the tvOne television office building in Yogyakarta on Thursday. Angry supporters of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) damaged the tvOne building on Thursday after the private television station owned by Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie accused presidential candidate Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and his supporters of being communists. (JP/Bambang Muryanto)
Presidential candidate Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo defended on Thursday his supporters, who reportedly vandalized the Yogyakarta office of television station tvOne, saying the actions were triggered by a smear campaign that could no longer be tolerated.
In a press conference in Bandung, West Java, Jokowi said that tvOne's frequent airing of a smear campaign against him had created tension within the 'grass roots'.
'The insults went overboard. If the media won't help clarify false information, don't blame volunteers if they take action to respond.'
Different groups of Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) supporters raided private television station tvOne office buildings in Pulogadung, East Java, and in Yogyakarta, late on Wednesday.
They were protesting against news coverage allegedly connecting the party with the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). The TV station is connected to Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie, whose party supports the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa ticket.
Yogyakarta councilor from the PDI-P Chang Wendryanto acknowledged that he, along with dozens of PDI-P supporters, arrived at the tvOne Yogyakarta office in Umbulharjo late on Wednesday to stage a protest.
A security guard in the compound said supporters later vandalized the office walls and about 10 motorcycles parked in the area, spraying them with red paint. They also stuck Jokowi-Kalla campaign stickers on various areas.
The PDI-P central executive board (DPP) immediately released a statement in response to the occurrence, declaring that the DPP had never instructed such acts be carried out.
'We have never instructed the vandalism and the DPP has instructed all party rank and file to not take any action against any media institutions,' PDI-P executive Pramono Anung said on Thursday.
'Should we have to deal with libelous news coverage, we will follow official procedures in accordance to our Constitution,' he said.
Earlier, PDI-P secretary-general Tjahjo Kumolo criticized tvOne news as provocative, saying that the coverage, which cited no sources, had inflicted damage on his party.
PDI-P deputy secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said that the party would also take legal action against libelous news coverage of its candidates and the party to relevant institutions, including the Press Council, the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) and the Indonesia Broadcasting Commission (KPI).
TvOne Yogyakarta and Central Java bureau chief Hendrawan Setiawan reported the incident to the Yogyakarta Police.
National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen. Ronny F. Sompie said that the force had instructed the police chiefs of Jakarta and Yogyakarta to use a persuasive approach in resolving conflicts between PDI-P supporters and tvOne.
'The law regulates the right to voice one's opinion publicly or through the medium of the press. But we all should carefully consider whether the content is unethical or spreads hatred,' he said.
President Susilo Bambang Yu-dhoyono said that the government, the police and the military were working hard to ensure a peaceful and orderly presidential election despite concerns that a possible tight result might trigger violence.
'Various parties here and abroad are worried that the tight race between the two candidates is likely to create problems if the losing ticket cannot accept defeat,' Yudhoyono said.
'Of course, the government will not stand still, and is working hard to ensure a safe, smooth and orderly election, on election day and the days after.'
He later reiterated that the police and the military would remain neutral.
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto, who received an order from Yudhoyono to act as the coordinator of election security measures, reminded the two candidates of the commitment declaration to hold a peaceful election that they signed in early January.
'They must respect it. No need to worry about violence if things are done in accordance with the existing rules.'
Indonesia Military (TNI) commander Gen. Moeldoko said the TNI would 'ensure the security of the election'.
'A 'soft-landing' transfer of power will be ensured,' he said.
Yuliasri Perdani in Jakarta, Bambang Muryanto and Suherdjoko in Yogyakarta and Margareth S. Aritonang in Bandung, West Java, contributed to this story.
