Police, Security Officers Allegedly Attack Four Journalists in Central Java
Jakarta. Police and security officers allegedly attacked four journalists while dispersing protestors outside the offices of the Banyumas district head in Central Java on Monday evening (09/10).
The Indonesian Cameramen Journalist Association (KJI) alleges that the journalists were attacked by members of the Banyumas Police and the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) who "brutally" dispersed a group of people protesting against the construction of the Baturraden Geothermal Power Plant on the slope of Mount Slamet.
Security officers reportedly also tried to seize journalists' cameras and mobile phones. The four who were attacked have been identified as Agus Wahyudi of Suara Merdeka, Aulia El Hakim of Satelitpost, Maulidin Wahyu of Radar Banyumas and Darbe Tyas of Metro TV.
The authorities earlier warned the journalists against covering the event, the KJI said in a statement on Tuesday.
Darbe of Metro TV was reportedly punched and kicked by about 10 officers until he eventually collapsed and had to be carried to hospital.
"Doctors found bruises on several parts of his body, including his chest, back and ribs," the KJI said in the statement. "The officers did that because they saw this TV journalist as the one who documented most of the violence."
The Indonesian Press Council reported that there were at least 72 cases of violence against journalists between May 2016 and May this year, committed by various actors.
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