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Group denounces violence against journalist ahead of Dec. 2 rally
The Association of Journalists for Diversity (Sejuk) is denouncing the violence allegedly committed against journalist Reja Hidayat from tirto.id by a member of the Islam Defenders Front.
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Thousands of people march alongside the Movement of Indonesian Council Edict Supporters (GNPF MUI) during a massive rally held in Jakarta on Nov. 4 to protest against Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who has been accused of blasphemy. (Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)
T
he Association of Journalists for Diversity (Sejuk) is denouncing the violence allegedly committed against journalist Reja Hidayat from tirto.id by a member of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI).
In a release made available on Thursday, Sejuk said it received a report that Reja was hit and told to go away by an FPI member on Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. when he was in Petamburan, Central Jakarta, near the FPI headquarters.
In the chronology outlined by Reja, the journalist wrote in his report circulating in several journalists’ chat groups that the man tried to prohibit him from writing any news about the FPI meeting ahead of the rally and demanded he delete anything he had already written. He also said he didn’t trust the media.
(Read also: Police ready to secure labor, anti-Ahok rallies)
Sejuk said the alleged violence was against press freedom, guaranteed in Indonesia in the 1999 press law.
Sejuk said two other journalists, one from Gatra magazine and another from the Jawa Post News Network, were also forced to go away and told they were not allowed to write news about the preparations for a Dec. 2 rally, which is being undertaken by, among others, the FPI.
“We call on the police to investigate the case,” the association said.
Sejuk is also calling on the public and participants in the Dec. 2 rally to respect press freedom and journalists’ endeavors to report the facts to the public.
During the previous rally on Nov. 4, journalists from Metro TV, Kompas TV and Berita Satu, reportedly received threats. (evi)
