Two Acehnese Journalists Intimidated By KPK Chair Guard Firli Bahuri

The meeting between the Chairman of the KPK and JMSI Aceh at the Secretary of Journalists, in Banda Aceh, Thursday night (9/11/2023). (ANTARA/HO-JMSI)

BANDA ACEH - Two Acehnese journalists are suspected of being intimidated by KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri while covering Firli's meeting with the Aceh Indonesian Cyber Media Network (JMSI) at the Joint Secretariat (Sekber) stall of Aceh journalists.

The two are the Umar King of Kompas TV and Kompas.com journalists, and the Puja TV (local TV Aceh) reporter Lala Nurmala. At that time, Firli and JMSI were having coffee and eating durian at the Secretary of Aceh journalists, Thursday (9/11) night.

"I was approached by the police who wore plain clothes and asked me to delete the photo of Firli's meeting," said Raja Umar, in Banda Aceh as reported by ANTARA, Friday, November 10.

Umar explained that the incident began when he received information about the arrival of the Banda Aceh journalist Firmike at around 20.49 WIB through a group of TV journalists.

Umarpun immediately rushed from home to the location using a motorbike, about 15 minutes he arrived at the location.

After that, Umar took out the press ID and camera from his bag, and immediately approached Firli, who was sitting relaxed.

"I introduce myself that I, Kompas TV journalist, want to interview the Chairman of the KPK regarding the agenda for visiting Aceh and his response to Firli's accusation that he has extended time from the summons of the Polda Metro Jaya," he said.

After that, Firli did not comment because he was eating durian, and Umar stated that he was ready to wait for the KPK chairman to finish eating durian.

"Not long after that the police escorted Firli immediately reminded me not to take videos and photos. Then I answered casually to the boss, I was working, I was a journalist, while I was walking away from Firli's meeting table with JMSI," said Umar.

Because Umar refused to remove it, the bodyguard declared himself a police officer and had the right to request the removal of the photo.

Furthermore, due to the coercion to open a gallery on a cellphone, Umar immediately turned on the audio footage, and asked what photos should be deleted.

"The police ( Firli's escort) knew I recorded the audio, he also asked to delete the footage, then I resisted," he said.

Feeling intimidated, the audio recording was sent by Umar to the Kompas.com group. The goal, if something happens with him, then it becomes one of the evidences in the future.

"Because there was an incident, I immediately informed several TV journalists who were members of the IJTI that they should immediately go to the location to cover Firli together," said Umar.

Apart from Umar, journalist Puja TV Nurmala also experienced the same thing, he was also asked to delete the photo of Firli's meeting.

Nurmala stated that she had taken photos and videos when Umar spoke with Firli's bodyguards, and then they were also asked to delete them.

Nurmala was then approached by Firli's bodyguard and forced to see pictures in the journalist's cellphone gallery, even to spam.

"I've deleted it, and stored it in spam. Then, it was also ordered to delete it, even though the cellphone was my privacy," said Nurmala.

Director of Puja TV Jamaluddin, regretted the incident, all parties should respect the profession and duties of journalism.

"I hope that the participation organization can advocate for this problem in the field," said Jamaluddin.