JAKNEWS.COM---In a one-year period since May 3, 2007, there were 60 cases of violence against journalists in Indonesia, the Indonesian Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) said in a report.

Of the 60 cases, 13 happend in Jakarta, 11 in East Java, and eight each in West Java and Depok, AJI said in its report issued on the occasion of World Press Day on May 3 on Saturday.

The violence was committed in various forms. In seven cases, the violence was done through threats, in five cases through harassment, in seven cases through eviction or expulsion, in three cases through imprisonment, in four cases through censorship, in 21 cases through phyical assault, and in eight cases through law suits.

Most of the perpetrators of the violence against journalists and the press were mobs and hoodlums, civil government, police and military personnel.

In one case, for example, two TV and one radio reporter were attacked by a mob in Bojonegoro`s town square on April 30 because of local resentment against some press coverage.

On April 2, two TV-One journalists who were doing their job were manhandled by people in navy uniforms in Cikarang`s business district, Bekasi.

In East Nusatenggara, on February 16, an Expo NTT journalist was tortured by the secretary of the Ende district administration, and on Feb 17, a Pos Kupang reporter was roughed up by four hoodlums who did not like a report in the newspaper.

Apart from physical violence against journalists, press freedom was also threatened by a clique of people using the power of money or their position. In one such case, Tempo journalist Metta Darmasaputra who was investigating suspected tax evasion by PT Asian Agri owned by business tycoon Sukanto Tanoto, was in September 2007 questioned and threatened by Jakarta police on the basis of information obtained by bugging Metta`s communications.

Indirect violence was also committed against journalists by such bodies as the public prosecutor`s office and Supreme Court.
 

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