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Alert

In journalist's brutal murder, AJI suspects a link to his work

(AJI/IFEX) - The following is a 15 May 2006 AJI press statement:

The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia on the Murder Case of East Java Journalist, Herliyanto

Only a few days prior to World Press Freedom Day, commemorated on 3 May by journalists around the globe, a freelance journalist of the newspaper "Delta Pos Tabloid" of Sidoarjo, East Java, was murdered. The 40-year-old journalist, Herliyanto, was found dead on 29 April in a teak forest in the village of Tarokan, Banyuanyar District, Probolinggo Regency, East Java.

The results of an autopsy, issued by the Probolinggo General Hospital, revealed that Herliyanto died from stab wounds caused by a sharp weapon. The wounds were inflicted all over his body: on his abdomen, back, the nape of his neck and his head. The victim's intestine protruded for about 25 centimeters, the wound to his neck was 12.5 centimeters wide, and the upper part of his head had an eight-centimeter wound. Based on police investigation, the murder was not motivated by robbery because his personal belongings - including his motorcycle - were not taken. Missing is his journalistic equipment, including his camera and notebook.

AJI Indonesia, which dispatched a team to Probolinggo to investigate the case, found a strong indication that the murder was related to his work as journalist. In one of his articles, published in "Visual Tabloid", a Jakarta-based tabloid, and in the 43rd edition of "Delta Pos Tabloid" of 1 - 7 May 2006, Herliyanto reported on a rally by residents of the village of Tulupari. The residents were protesting against the head of their village, who was suspected of manipulating the rice rationing program for poor people ("raskin") in 2000. Because of the report, local police initiated legal action which led to the prosecution of the village head and his dismissal by the community.

In another edition of "Delta Pos Tabloid", Herliyanto published an article on the sale of potable water in the village of Desa Padagangan, Probolinggo. The report was made based on a letter of complaint sent by the Village Advisory Body of Padagangan to the Probolinggo regent.

Friends of Herliyanto also knew that he was planning to investigate and report on the mishandling of the School Operational Assistance (BOS) fund in Tiris District, and on the mishandling of the budget, the case of a falsified signature and the case of the collapse of a bridge and river embankment all in Tulupari Village. AJI suspects that Herliyanto was murdered by someone who was inconvenienced by his reporting on these controversial subjects.

With this letter, AJI-Indonesia:

1. Condemns the murder of Herliyanto, a freelance journalist of "Delta Pos Tabloid", in East Java. The brutal and premeditated murder was clearly a barbaric act, a direct attack against the profession of journalist and a threat against press freedom.

2. Urges the authorities - particularly the East Java Regional Police - to fully investigate the murder and to bring the guilty to justice. AJI supports and appreciates the vigorous and swift work of the police in Probolinggo in their efforts to investigate the murder and to discover the motive, arrest the perpetrators, and identify the intellectual author.

3. Calls on the government at all levels, as well as the general public, to respect the work of journalists, including by providing assistance and protection to journalists on duty. The profession is safeguarded by Article 8 of the Press Law No. 40 (1999) and Article 28F of the Second Amendment of Indonesia's 1945 Constitution.

Jakarta, May 15, 2006

Heru Hendratmoko
President

Eko Maryadi
Coordinator of the Advocacy Division