Amid challenging times when the role of the free press is key to a democratic society, the country’s press freedom once again has been put in the spotlight as it faces fresh challenges, ranging from threats and violence to criminalization.

The latest case took place recently in Banyumas, Central Java. The incident begun when police officers disrupted the work of journalists by allegedly damaging their equipment when they were recording the police’s attempt to disperse protesters in front of the regency administration office on Monday night.

A reporter from private news channel Metro TV, Darbe Tyas, suffered injuries after allegedly being beaten by about 10 officers, who reportedly ignored Darbe’s attempt to show them his press card.

“Some [officers] think that when journalists report news that doesn’t benefit them, it is an attack that they take personally, while in fact the press only does its duty of being the eyes and ears of the public,” Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) advocacy division head Iman D. Nugroho told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

The Indonesian Television Journalist Association (IJTI) Papua chapter has joined the chorus in condemning the alleged assaults, saying the authorities should thoroughly investigate and punish officers who commit acts of violence in accordance with the law.

Besides physical threats, a recent case also showcased challenges faced by journalists and the mass media. The police were quick to process a report filed by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) senior investigator Brig. Gen. Aris Budiman against Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) activist Donal Fariz for libel. Aris filed the report after Donal was interviewed by Kompas TV anchor Aiman Witjaksono and he alleged that there was a turncoat within the KPK that aimed to weaken the antigraft body from within. Aris also filed a police report against Kompas TV, Tempo weekly and news website Inilah.com for libel. Aiman and Kompas TV chief editor Rosiana Silalahi underwent police questioning as witnesses in the case.

Iman pointed out that Aris’ move indicated that even a high-ranking officer failed to understand and uphold the Press Law, since disputes involving journalistic work should be brought before the Press Council as stipulated under the law.

AJI insists that press freedom in the country has barely improved as it continues to face threats, such as violence against reporters by law enforcement officers, which was caused by the latter’s lack of knowledge on the importance of the protection of journalists.

According to AJI data, cases of violence against reporters in Indonesia increased to 78 incidents last year from 42 in 2015 and 40 in 2014. These included attacks by law enforcement personnel, but only a few perpetrators were brought to justice.

The Legal Aid Institute for the Press (LBH Pers) has raised concerns over articles in the currently under deliberation amendment to the Criminal Code (KUHP) that may incriminate journalists. Article 329 of the amendment bill stipulates that “a maximum of five years’ imprisonment can be given as punishment to anyone who publishes or allows the publication of anything that could affect the impartiality of judges in a court hearing.”

LBH Pers executive director Nawawi Bahrudin said the article contradicted Article 4 of the 1999 Press Law, which stipulated that press freedom was guaranteed as a human right and that the national press should not be subjected to censorship or broadcasting bans.

“This is a democratic country, so on what grounds [do lawmakers] set a maximum five years of punishment for those who write news considered to undermine judges’ integrity?” Nawawi said, adding that the article may stop journalists from being critical.

Meanwhile, Banyumas Police chief Adj. Comr. Sr. Bambang Yudantara said four officers were on the verge of being fired as they had been named suspects for allegedly violating the police’s code of ethics and violating the Criminal Code by allegedly beating the Metro TV reporter.

The Banyumas Police, assisted by officers from the Central Java Police internal affairs division (Propam), are also investigating three Public Order Agency officers implicated in the violence against the journalist, Bambang said.

“We are still investigating violations related to the Press Law and might charge the suspects under that law too,” Bambang said, adding that the suspects had already been charged under articles 170 and 351 of the Criminal Code on committing violence in public.

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