T

he Tanah Grogot Police in Paser regency, East Kalimantan, officially named suspect on Monday village officials in an assault against a journalist.

Aliansyah, secretary of the Padang Pangrapat village in Paser, has been named a suspect in the case of Paser TV journalist Nurmila Sari Wahyuni, 23, on Saturday while she was covering news in the area.

Nurmila suffered severe bleeding from a miscarriage.

Also named suspect was Rantau Panjang village chief Ilyas, Paser Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ismahjuddin said on Monday.

“Aliansyah has officially been named a suspect. There are assault indications as the victim suffered wounds to her cheek and body,” East Kalimantan Police chief spokesman Sr. Comr. Antonius Wisnu Sutirta said on Monday.

“Regarding the assault [...] we still have to wait for a medical report. Aliansyah is currently still charged with assault and maltreatment,” he continued.

Aliansyah is charged with violating Article 170 of the Criminal Code on vandalism and assault which carries a seven-year maximum sentence as the victim was severely injured, Article 335 on unpleasant acts (one-year sentence) and Article 351 on physical attack (five years).

Ilyas is also being charged with violating Articles 170, 335 and 351 of the Criminal Code.

Nurmila, a camera person, was assaulted on Sunday as she was filming a house demolition amid a land dispute in Rantau Panjang village.

When she was about to leave the location, she was obstructed by a group of men, they knew she was a journalist and so began yelling at her and became violent.

Nurmila was hit on the face and as she fell to the ground she was trampled by around 16 people, including Aliansyah. It is alleged the attackers carried machetes, axes and other sharp weapons that they used to intimidate her.

Ilyas, appeared from among the attackers and instead of assisting Nurmila, he grabbed her jacket and camera and assaulted her. The assailants, including Ilyas and dozens of other attackers, trampled on Nurmila’s legs, stomach and head.

Nurmila is still undergoing treatment at the Panglima Sebaya general hospital in Paser, as of Monday. Antonius said the Paser Police were still cross-examining a number of witnesses.

“[We will interview] witnesses to [...] find out whether or not they were involved in the attack,” said Wisnu.

Separately, secretary of the Balikpapan branch of the Alliance of Independent Journalist (AJI), Nopi Abdi said he would advocate the case to bring the attackers to justice because the assault had obstructed the press’ freedom to
cover news.

Meanwhile, chairman of East Kalimantan chapter of the Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI) said the association would conduct advocacy on the case and demand that the village officials be prosecuted.