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Alert

Police prevent television journalist from filming questioning of suspects

(SEAPA/IFEX) - A broadcast journalist was prevented from filming police as they questioned suspects in the East Java city of Kertosono on 5 March 2007, according to the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), a SEAPA founding member in Indonesia.

Mochtar Bagus, a contributor for private broadcaster RCTI, was in the working room of Kertosono Sectoral Police Chief Masherley at around 5:15 p.m. (local time), to record police as they questioned two people who had been brought in for disturbing traffic by praying on a bridge. While Mochtar was taking footage of the session, someone claiming to be an official from the Nganjuk Regency Office of the Education and Sports Agency suddenly shouted at him to delete his footage. Masherley and his subordinates joined in the verbal intimidation. Mochtar was not allowed to leave the premises until he deleted all his footage.

In a 7 March press statement, AJI condemned the actions of Police Chief Masherley and his subordinates. AJI said their actions violate Chapter 18 (1) of Law No. 40 (1999) on the press, which prohibits all acts that hamper or block the performance of journalistic duties. The media rights organisation demanded that the Nganjuk Regency police chief "take strong measures and impose sanctions against . . . Masherley, in accordance with existing legislation".