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National scene: Press council calls for journalists’ protection
The Press Council has expressed concern about the safety of journalists when covering demonstrations in the country in the aftermath of the massive rally by Muslim groups in Jakarta on Nov
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he Press Council has expressed concern about the safety of journalists when covering demonstrations in the country in the aftermath of the massive rally by Muslim groups in Jakarta on Nov. 4, which saw a number of violent acts being committed against several reporters covering the story.
During the Nov. 4 rally, in which around 100,000 protesters from several Muslim groups demanded the prosecution of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, a number of reporters, from outlets such as Kompas TV and Metro TV, were prevented from covering the event by some protesters who accused them of being partisan.
Press Council chairman Yosep Adi Prasetyo said on Tuesday that the public had to welcome any journalists regardless of their institutions to cover important events such as the recent rally.
“Journalists work in the public interest, therefore, it has to be generally perceived that journalists need protection while on duty,” Yosep said in a discussion entitled “Dilemmas In Demonstration Coverage”.
