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Indonesia: Army attack and intimidation against journalist covering traffic incident
Asian Human Rights Commission Urgent Appeal - October 4, 2016
Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding intimidation and violence against Mr. Sony Misdananto, a journalist of Net TV in Madiun, East Java province, by the Army Raider Battalion 501. When Sony recorded army personnel beating up members of the Setia Hati Martial Art (PSSH), the army attacked Sony as well. His video memory card was also forcibly destroyed. He was taken to a security post and threatened. Until now, there is no investigation and prosecution undertaken by the law enforcement agency into this case.
Case narrative:
On Sunday, 2 October 2016, Mr. Sony Misdananto, a journalist of Net TV in Madiun, East Java province, was brutally attacked and beaten by army personnel. The attack occurred when Sony was doing his job, covering a story about a traffic accident involving members of the Setia Hati Martial Art (PSSH) Teratai with the community at the intersection of Ketekan, Madiun.
Sometime after the accident, a number of army personnel belonging to Raider Battalion 501, who were near the traffic accident location, suddenly attacked and beat members of the PSSH. The army accused the PSSH of causing the traffic accident. Then, because Sony was recording the attack, the army personnel attacked and beat Sony.
Furthermore, the army forcibly brought Sony to the nearest security post. The army personnel and police officers were there because they were deployed to monitor the Suro Agung commemoration, celebrated by the Madiun community every 1 Muharram Hijriyah (Islamic new year).
At the security post, some army personnel interrogated Sony and warned him not to publish the video recording of the brutal attack conducted by the army against PSSH members. One of the army personnel, Private (Prada) Herdyana, forcibly took the video recorder's memory card and broke it. The army personnel expressed their anger because Sony recorded the attack without their permission.
Apart from intimidating Sony and destroying his memory card, some 10 to 12 army personnel beat and kicked Sony's head, face, back and legs. Sony was later taken by army vehicle to the Military Police office in Madiun.
Additional information:
Violence against journalists is a serious problem in Indonesia, but the government has yet to take serious effort to protect journalists and prosecute the culprits. In 2014, the Indonesian Journalist Alliance (AJI) reported and documented 40 cases of violence against journalists, whereas in 2015 the AJI Indonesia documented and reported 43 cases. Many cases of violence and murder against journalists have yet to be properly investigated by the law enforcement agency. On the contrary, the police are often involved in violence against journalists.
Suggested action:
Please write to the authorities listed below, asking them to ensure that an immediate investigation and prosecution is begun into all those involved in the attack against Mr. Sony Misdananto. The government should ensure that the chief of the army cooperates with the law enforcement upon this case. The National Commission on Human Rights and media should be given access to monitor the progress of the investigation process. Furthermore, the government has to put in place suitable policies able to protect journalists.
The AHRC will write a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, calling for the Rapporteur's intervention into this matter.
To support this case, please click here: http://www.urgentappeals.net/support.php?ua=AHRC-UAC-116-2016
Sample letter:
Dear....................,
Indonesia: Army attack and intimidation against journalist covering traffic incident
On Sunday, 2 October 2016, Mr. Sony Misdananto, a journalist of Net TV in Madiun, East Java province, was brutally attacked and beaten by army personnel. The attack occurred when Sony was doing his job, covering a story about a traffic accident involving members of the Setia Hati Martial Art (PSSH) Teratai with the community at the intersection of Ketekan, Madiun.
Sometime after the accident, a number of army personnel belonging to Raider Battalion 501, who were near the traffic accident location, suddenly attacked and beat members of the PSSH. The army accused the PSSH of causing the traffic accident. Then, because Sony was recording the attack, the army personnel attacked and beat Sony.
Furthermore, the army forcibly brought Sony to the nearest security post. The army personnel and police officers were there because they were deployed to monitor the Suro Agung commemoration, celebrated by the Madiun community every 1 Muharram Hijriyah (Islamic new year).
At the security post, some army personnel interrogated Sony and warned him not to publish the video recording of the brutal attack conducted by the army against PSSH members. One of the army personnel, Private (Prada) Herdyana, forcibly took the video recorder's memory card and broke it. The army personnel expressed their anger because Sony recorded the attack without their permission.
Apart from intimidating Sony and destroying his memory card, some 10 to 12 army personnel beat and kicked Sony's head, face, back and legs. Sony was later taken by army vehicle to the Military Police office in Madiun.
Therefore, I respectfully request you to ensure that an immediate investigation and prosecution is begun into all those involved in the attack against Mr. Sony Misdananto. The government should ensure that the chief of the army cooperates with the law enforcement upon this case.
The National Commission on Human Rights and media should be given access to monitor the progress of the investigation process. Furthermore, the government has to put in place suitable policies able to protect journalists.
I look forward to your prompt action in this matter.
Yours Sincerely,
...................
Please send your letters to:
1. Mr. Joko Widodo
President of
the Republic of Indonesia
Jl. Veteran No.
16
Jakarta Pusat
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3458
595
Fax: +62 21 3484
4759
E-mail: webmaster@setneg.go.id
2. Mr. Yasonna
Laoly
Minister of Law
and Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna
Said Kav. 6 7
Kuningan, Jakarta
12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 525
3006, 525 3889
Fax: +62 21 525
3095
3. Dr. Mualimin
Abdi SH., MH
Director General
of Human Rights
Office of the
Director General of Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna
Said Kav. 6 7
Kuningan, Jakarta
12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 5253006
Fax: +62 21 5253095
4. General Pol.
Drs. H.M. Tito Karnavian, M.A., Ph.D
Chief of National
Police (KAPOLRI)
Jl. Trunojoyo
No. 3 KebayoranBaru, Jakarta Selatan 12110
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 384
8537, 726 0306
Fax: +62 21 7220
669
E-mail: info@polri.go.id
5. Ms. Poengky
Indarti
Commissioner
of the National Police Commission
Jl. Tirtayasa
VII No. 20
KebayoranBaru,
Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 739
2315
Fax: +62 21 739
2352
E-mail: secretariat@kompolnas.go.id,
skm@kompolnas.go.id
6. Professor.
Amzulian Rifai S.H, LL.M, PhD
Chairperson of
Ombudsman of Republic of Indonesia
Jl. HR. Rasuna
Said Kav. C-19 Kuningan (GedungPengadilan TIPIKOR) Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 52960894/95
Fax: +62 21-52960904/05
7. Dr. HM. Azis
Syamsuddin, SH
Chairperson of
the Commission III of The House of Representative
KetuaKomisi III
DPR RI
Gedung Nusantara
II DPR RI, Lt I
JalanJenderalGatotSubroto,
Jakarta,
INDONESIA
Telp: +62 21
-5715566, +62 21-5715569, +62 21-5715864
Fax: +62 21 5715566
8. Mr. Abdul Haris
Semendawai
Chairperson of
the Agency for Victims and Witness Protection
Lembaga Perlindungan
Saksi dan Korban (LPSK)
JL. Proklamasi
No 56 Jakarta Pusat 10320
Tel: +62 21 31907021
Fax: +62 21 3190606/+62
21 31927881
9. M. Imdadun
Rahmat
Chairperson of
the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM)
Jl. Latuharhary
No. 4-B
Jakarta 10310
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 392
5227-30
Fax: +62 21 392
5227
E-mail: info@komnas.go.id
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals
Program
Asian Human Rights
Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
Source: http://www.humanrights.asia/news/urgent-appeals/AHRC-UAC-116-2016.
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