Police Officer Rantati Performance Journalists At Ternate District Court, Kompolnas Urges North Maluku Police To Take Action

North Maluku Police officers obstructed the performance of journalists when they were about to take pictures of witness Eliya Bachmid (black headscarf) at the Ternate District Court, Thursday, July 25, 2024. (ANTARA/Abdul Fatah)

The National Police Commission (Kompolnas) has asked the North Maluku Police (Malut) to act on the behavior of police officers at the North Maluku Regional Police allegedly preventing journalists from carrying out journalistic duties at the Ternate District Court (PN) on July 25, 2024.

"Incidentally, the Kompolnas Team is now in Ternate with the Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) to socialize the position paper (polycy paper paper) to the leadership and members of the Police regarding Legal Protection for Journalists and Freedom of Press from Violence. We immediately asked the Head of Public Relations of the North Maluku Police regarding media complaints related to allegations of excessive violence by members of the National Police during the AGK trial at the Ternate District Court, which presented EB witnesses," said Commissioner Kompolnas Poengky Indarti in Ternate, Friday, July 26, confiscated by Antara.

Poengky stated that acts of excessive violence allegedly committed by members of the police included preventing journalists from taking pictures of EB after giving information at the AGK trial, confiscation of the cellphone of one of the journalists, and allegations that EB witnesses had poured water on one of the journalists.

"Kompolnas has received confirmation from the Head of Public Relations of the North Maluku Police that the Regional Police has summoned and examined members of the police who are suspected of obstructing the work of journalists while covering the AGK trial with witness EB. The North Maluku Police will follow up on this case with an ethical process," he said.

In addition, Kompolnas also encouraged EB, who is Bhayangkari's mother, and her husband, who is a member of the National Police, to be examined.

"So, in addition to investigating allegations of violence against journalists, we also highlighted the alleged involvement of EB witnesses in the AGK case. Kompolnas hopes that firm action from the North Maluku Police can provide a deterrent effect so that similar incidents do not happen again in the future," he said.

As is known, a number of unscrupulous Air and Air Police (Polairud) of the North Maluku Police were reported to the Central Service of the Integrated Police (SPKT) of the North Maluku Police on July 25, 2024.

The report was included by victims Aksal Muin and Saha Boamona accompanied by a team of Legal Advisors (PH), Mirjan Marsaoly and Abdullah Ismail, after the incident of violence and confiscation of the victim's cellphone while serving coverage at the Ternate District Court (PN).

The two victims, who are journalists, received unpleasant treatment while covering the witness examination trial with the defendant, the former governor of North Maluku, Abdul Gani Kasuba (AGK) on July 25, 2024.