TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Journalist attacked following report on Navy in North Maluku
Three Navy personnel allegedly attacked journalist Sukandi Ali after reporting on a fuel barge seizure in North Maluku in March, and threatened his life, forcing Sukandi to stop reporting.
Change Size
Illustration of torture (Shutterstock/Rommel Canlas)
N
orth Maluku-based journalist Sukandi Ali has alleged that Navy personnel attacked him as a result of his coverage of the Navy's seizure of a barge carrying tons of kerosene and Dexlite fuel late last month.
According to Sukandi, two of his alleged attackers picked him up at his house before forcing him to follow them to a naval post in Panambuang fishing port in South Halmahera regency, North Maluku, to question him over the nature of his coverage of the vessel's seizure.
He identified them as Second Lt. Miftahudin, the naval post commander, and his subordinate Idham. Another subordinate, Aris, also took part in the assault at the naval post.
Upon arriving at the port, the initial two perpetrators immediately physically attacked Sukandi before threatening to shoot him.
Although the journalist was eventually let go, he was forced by the perpetrators to cease his journalism activities in the area and resign his position as an investigative journalist.
"As of now, I do not wish to see your face covering news along the coast from Labua village to Panambuang," Sukandi said, recounting his attackers' words, as quoted by Tempo.
Following the incident, the Navy said it had sent the alleged perpetrators for questioning by the military police about the incident.
