10 January 2007
ATTACKS ON THE PRESS INCREASE
The Alliance of Independent Journalists (Aliansi Jurnalis Independen, AJI) has called on the Indonesian government to do more to protect press freedom following the release of a report that showed attacks on the press increased in 2006 compared to the previous year.
AJI recorded 53 cases in which journalists were physically assaulted, threatened or legally harassed last year. In 2005, AJI recorded 43 cases.
Jakarta was the most dangerous place for journalists (16 cases), followed by East Java (seven cases) and West Java (six cases).
Physical assaults were the most common form of attack (28 cases). One journalist was killed last year - freelance reporter Herliyanto was murdered on 29 April in Probolinggo, East Java.
AJI has also warned that a proposed amendment to the Criminal Code contains provisions that could make it easier to jail journalists for press offences. The group says there are almost twice as many provisions in the proposed amendment under which a journalist could be imprisoned.
Visit these links:
- AJI Report: http://www.seapabkk.org/newdesign/newsdetail.php?No=567
- AJI: http://www.ajiindonesia.org/
- Freedom House Report on Indonesia: http://tinyurl.com/y82pcx
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