Medan Journalists Demonstrate At Bobby Nasution's Office Following The Eviction Of The Security Team

Demonstration of journalists at the City Hall office because Bobby Nasution's security team expelled journalists while on duty (ANTARA)

MEDAN - Journalists from various print, online and television media took a joint action against the arrogance of the security team of Medan Mayor Bobby Nasution. The demonstration was held in front of the Medan City Hall office.

"This is the peak of journalists' anxiety in accessing information, especially when they want to interview the Mayor of Bobby Nasution," said Medan Liston Damanik, chairman of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) in his oration, Thursday, April 15.

In fact, according to him, the work of a journalist is protected by Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press and the Journalistic Code of Ethics which was ratified by the Press Council.

"Anyone who obstructs the work of a journalist is violating the law. A journalist's job is a public job, so people need to know information on the performance of the Medan City Government," said Liston, quoted by Antara.

The demonstration took place peacefully in the aftermath of the expulsion of two journalists who were about to conduct door-stop interviews with the Mayor of Medan, who is also President Joko Widodo's son-in-law, at the Medan Mayor's Office, Wednesday, April 14.

At that time, journalists were waiting for the mayor of Medan to be banned from the security team, including members of the Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol), police officers, and members of the Presidential Guard (Paspampres).

"From the start of waiting, we were visited by Satpol PP. Then the person said we had to get permission first and schedule. Even though we only needed two minutes," said Hani Ritonga, one of the journalists who were evicted victims in his oration.

About one hour of demonstration by dozens of journalists which was held in front of the Medan Mayor's Office, but Medan Mayor Bobby Nasution did not appear to meet, until finally the journalists dispersed.