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Press groups condemn killings of North Sumatran journalists, call for thorough probe
Only days before the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, which is commemorated every Nov
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span>Only days before the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, which is commemorated every Nov. 2, two journalists were found dead on an oil palm plantation in Labuhan Batu regency, North Sumatra, their bodies riddled with stab wounds.
The victims, Maraden Sianipar and Maratua P. Siregar, had worked for Pilar Indonesia Merdeka (Pindo Merdeka), a Medan-based weekly, before becoming freelance journalists.
The two, however, were better known for their activism and mediating a land dispute between residents and the owner of an oil palm plantation, PT Sei Alih Berombang (SAB), also known as multi-business cooperative KSU Amalia.
The remains of Maraden were found on Wednesday in a ditch near KSU Amelia’s compound in Wonosari village, Panai Hilir district, Labuhan Batu regency. A day later, the body of Maratua — better known as Sanjay — was discovered in the same area.
Panai Hilir Police chief Adj. Comr. Budiarto said investigators had found indications that the journalists’ deaths were related to their activism.
“[Sanjay] often advocated for the people,” he said, adding that the police have summoned six witnesses in the case.
Meanwhile, Labuhan Batu Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Darojat said there was still no strong evidence connecting the homicides to the land dispute.
Sanjay’s friend Johan said the victim was an active member of two human rights groups, namely the Motherland Defenders and Alliance of Indonesia’s Saviors.
Prior to his death, Sanjay was advocating for Panai Hilir residents who were involved in a dispute over an oil palm concession formerly under the control of KSU Amelia.
"The victim had fought for the land with Panai Hilir residents for nearly 10 years. This year, the government took over the 350 hectares of land formerly managed by PT KSU Amalia,” Johan said.
The land has stood neglected since the transfer of ownership, making it vulnerable to theft.
Johan said that before they were found dead, Sanjay and Maraden were planning to meet with local officials to convince them to allow farmers to use the land.
The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) and the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) condemned the presumed murders and urged the police to thoroughly investigate the case.
"The police should give special attention to the case. They could deploy a special investigation team if needed," said Hermansyah, head of the PWI’s North Sumatra chapter.
Eka Azwin Lubis from AJI Medan said the abuse against journalists in North Sumatra was "alarming".
From January to March alone, eight journalists were reportedly verbally and physically abused by government officials and security forces, among others.
AJI recorded 64 cases of violence against journalists in Indonesia last year, an increase from 60 cases in 2017.
AJI advocacy head Erick Tanjung said the group had verified 32 cases so far this year, most of which occurred during protests that turned violent.
Erick said the violence against journalists in Indonesia remained high as past cases had been left unresolved; none of the abuse allegedly committed by police officers had ever been legally settled.
Article 18 of the 1999 Press Law regulates that anyone found to have obstructed the work of journalists is to receive a maximum punishment of two years in prison.
A recent report from UNESCO revealed that close to 500 journalists were killed between 2014 and 2018 worldwide, an 18 percent increase from the previous five-year period.
The report also found a continuing trend of widespread impunity as nearly 90 percent of cases of journalists’ murders "remain unresolved worldwide".
“When journalists are targeted, societies as a whole pay a price,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
“Without the ability to protect journalists, our ability to remain informed and contribute to decision-making is severely hampered.”
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) reports that media freedom in Indonesia is "worsening to seriously declining", with journalists facing threats of physical attacks, as well as poor wages and working conditions.
