SEAPA Condemns Police's Assault on News Photographer

November 20 2002

The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) Jakarta condemns the assault of Lampung Post daily photographer Syaefullah (29) by Lampung Police Mass Disperse Unit (UPS Dalmas) officers in the Bandarlampung City, Lampung (Southern Sumatra), on November 11 2002.

On the day of the attack, the photographer was covering the Disperse Unit officers’ onslaught on a truck driver who collided with a metal armored car belonging to the Lampung Police Directorate. The incident occurred in the middle of the city, in front of the Indonesian Railway Company (PT KAI) offices. As he was photographing the scene, out of a sudden more than 10 officers turned their anger at Syaefullah, and dragged the Lampung Post photographer inside the railway offices. There he was interrogated, punched and kicked. The photographer kept telling the officers that he was from the press. But the authority officers kept on beating him with their bats. He was later then taken outside and punched several more times. The officers also took away his camera and films.

As an organization of journalists dedicated to press freedom and to the protection of journalists, SEAPA Jakarta condemns this attack in the strongest possible language since it further deteriorated the state of press freedom in Indonesia. Journalists must be free to conduct their professional duties without fear of harassment and attack. Such incident could foster a climate of fear that inhibits journalistic investigation and misleads the promotion of self-censorship.

SEAPA demands Lampung Police to prosecute your officers. As the law enforcement institution, Lampung Police must honor and respect the work and principle of journalism. SEAPA, along with other media advocacy organizations, will monitor this case closely and await response from you.

Respectfully Yours,

Lukas Luwarso Solahudin
Country Director Advocacy Coordinator