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Press groups condemn assault on journalist by police chief's aide
Endri allegedly approached other journalists at the scene and threatened to "slap them one by one" for crowding around the police chief.
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Hundreds of journalists stage a peaceful rally to protest attacks committed by several Air Force personnel in front of the Soewondo Air Force Base in Medan, North Sumatra, in this file photo. (thejakartapost.com/Apriadi Gunawan)
T
he Semarang, Central Java, branches of the Indonesian Photo Journalist Association (PFI) and the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) have condemned the recent alleged assault of a journalist by an aide to National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo.
Makna Zaezar, a photojournalist for the national news agency Antaranews, was attacked on Saturday while taking a photograph of Listyo when he was visiting Semarang's Tawang Station to oversee the peak of the Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) return flow.
The incident reportedly began when one of Listyo’s aides, Second Insp. Endri Purwa Saefa, shoved journalists covering the event, instructing them to stay clear of the police chief, who was speaking with a passenger in a wheelchair.
Shortly after, he struck Makna on the head, who was taking a photo of Listyo from a distance, away from the crowd.
Endri then allegedly approached other journalists at the scene and threatened to "slap them one by one" for crowding around Listyo.
Head of PFI Semarang Dhana Kencana condemned the incident, expressing concern that it created fear among journalists who now feel unsafe in their work environment.
"This incident violates Article 16 of the 1999 Press Law, which protects journalists from interference when performing their duties. Violence against journalists poses a serious threat to press freedom and democracy," he stated on Sunday.
