7 Journalists Become Victims Of Beatings, AJI Reminds Suggestions For Markers That Have Not Been Realized

Illustration / chaotic demo (Saddam / VOI)

JAKARTA - Cases of violence against journalists by unscrupulous police have occurred again amid demonstrations against the Omnibus Law on Cipta Kerja.

The Jakarta Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) and the Press Legal Aid Institute said that this kind of thing often recurs even though journalists are protected by the Press Law in carrying out journalistic work.

According to the Head of the Advocacy Division of AJI Jakarta, Erick Tanjung, these cases of violence often do not come to an end.

Evidently, of the four cases of violence against journalists that occurred during the #ReformasiDikorupsi action in October last year to date, none have ended in court.

"The national press has the right to seek, obtain, and disseminate ideas and information (Article 4 of the Press Law); and any person who violates the law deliberately takes action which results in obstructing or obstructing the implementation of the provisions of Article 4 paragraph (2) and paragraph (3). shall be punished with imprisonment of up to two years or a maximum fine of Rp. 500 million (Article 18 paragraph 1). This means that members of the police who violate the law can be convicted, "said Erick in a written statement, Friday, October 9.

Most recently, AJI Jakarta and LBH Pers also released seven journalists who were victims of beatings to detention while covering the demonstration against the Omnibus Law Cipta Kerja.

CNNIndonesia.com journalist Tohirin admitted that he was hit on the head and his cellphone destroyed by the police when he was covering the demonstrators who were arrested and then hacked into the Harmoni area, Central Jakarta. At that time he did not photograph or record the treatment.

The police, who did not believe his testimony, then grabbed him and checked his cellphone gallery. The police were angry when they saw the photo of the officers curling the demonstrators. As a result, the cellphone that he used as a means of coverage was slammed to pieces, so all data on his coverage was also damaged.

"I was interrogated, scolded. Several times I was hit on the head, lucky I was wearing a helmet, ”said Thohirin, who claimed to have shown his press card and vest bearing his PERS to the authorities.

Suara.com journalist Peter Rotti who covered the Thamrin area was also targeted by the police. He recorded the police allegedly ganging up on demonstrators. Next, a policeman in plain black clothes and Brimob members approached him.

The authorities asked for the camera, but Peter refused because he was the official reporting journalist.

The police then took away the camera. Peter was then dragged, beaten, and kicked by the police gang, bruising his hands and temples.

"Finally my camera was returned, but they took the memory card," said Peter.

A journalist from merahputih.com, Ponco Sulaksono, was also the target of police rampage. He went missing for several hours, before it was discovered that he was being held at Polda Metro Jaya.

Next, there was also Depok Radar Journalist, Aldi, who had recorded the moment Ponco got out of the detention car. Aldi then got into an argument with the police, but he was also detained.

Apart from beating and detaining media journalists, the police also arrested the student press covering the action. They are members of the Diamma University Student Press Institute. Dr. Moestopo Jakarta, Berthy Johnry; members of Perslima, Indonesian Education University Bandung, Syarifah and Amalia; as well as members of the Jakarta State Polytechnic Gema Student Press namely Ajeng Putri, Dharmajati, and Muhammad Ahsan.

"AJI Jakarta and LBH Pers emphasized that persecution by the police and obstructing the work of journalists is a violation of Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press," said Erick.

Erick highlighted the police's excuse for arresting journalists because the press cards were too small so that there were no distinguishing attributes. However, on the other hand, the police have never pursued a proposal to provide a distinguishing mark between journalists and demonstrators.

So, for this incident, AJI and LBH Pers asked the Police to thoroughly investigate and asked the Chief of Police to release the detained journalists and student press.

In addition, he also appealed to the editorial leadership to provide assistance to journalists who were detained as a form of accountability and appealed to journalists to have the courage to report all intimidation and violence committed by the authorities.