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View all search resultsJournalists victimized during jobs law protests: AJI
“Ironically, the perpetrators of the violence against the press are the police – an institution that is supposed to be enforcing the law,” the Alliance of Independent Journalists wrote.
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t least 56 journalists experienced violence or intimidation, allegedly perpetrated by members of the police, during nationwide protests against the Job Creation Law, according to the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).
Data from the AJI’s advocacy division shows that significant portions of the violence against journalists took place in Malang, Central Java (15 reported cases), Jakarta (eight), and Surabaya (six) between Oct. 7 and 21 – the approximately two weeks after the jobs law was passed by the House of Representatives on Oct. 5.
Most of the abuse inflicted on journalists was in the form of intimidation (23 cases), confiscation or destruction of data or news-gathering tools (13 cases) and physical violence (11 cases).
“Ironically, the perpetrators of the violence against the press are the police – an institution that is supposed to be enforcing the law,” the alliance said in a written statement issued on Monday, adding that the abuse of journalists was a crime according to Article 18 of Law No. 40/1999 on the press.
In response to the violence, the AJI called on National Police chief Gen. Idham Azis to take legal action against police personnel accused of brutalizing members of the press.
The alliance also urged the police to reassess the cadet training program, particularly with regard to the handling of protests and rallies, to ensure that the public and the press were afforded safe spaces.
Activists have previously raised concerns about the police’s purported use of excessive force against protesters and journalists during the jobs law protests.
