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Assault of 'Tempo' journalist raises fresh concerns about press freedom
While violence against journalists is nothing new in Indonesia, an annual report by LBH Pers showed a spike in cases throughout the pandemic in 2020, with most of the cases involving police brutality.
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Press freedom illustration (Shutterstock/File)
T
he alleged assault of a Tempo journalist covering a corruption case has raised fresh concerns over violence against journalists in Indonesia.
The journalist, Nurhadi, is believed to have been physically assaulted by at least two security guards while reporting in Surabaya, East Java. At the time, he was assigned to cover stories related to the Finance Ministry’s former director of investigations and tax collection, Angin Prayitno Aji, who was recently named a suspect in a bribery case investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
Nurhadi reportedly went to the wedding reception of Angin’s daughter on Saturday to collect information for his report when security guards believed to be Angin’s personal bodyguards accused him of trespassing despite him showing a press card.
According to Tempo chief editor Wahyu Dhyatmika, the journalist on duty was beaten and held captive for a couple of hours inside a hotel room in Surabaya to prevent Nurhadi from reporting the news. The security guards also took Nurhadi’s mobile phone and deleted files before destroying the SIM card.
“Tempo thinks that this persecution goes against Article 170 of the Criminal Code on group violence and Article 18, Paragraph 1 of the Press Law on the intentional prevention of journalism,” Wahyu said in a statement on Sunday.
Under the two provisions, the alleged assailants -- reportedly having a police and military background -- could face up to five years’ imprisonment, Wahyu said.
A group of NGOs and legal aid organizations advocating antiviolence against journalists and assisting the Tempo journalist in his assault case, including the Legal Aid Institute for the Press (LBH Pers), suspect that more than 10 security guards were involved in the incident.
