Nila Ertina, Jakarta – The Indonesian Alliance of Independent Journalist (AJI) has condemned the intimidation of journalists covering the 79th Indonesian Independence Day celebrations at the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) on Saturday August 17.
Three journalists from CNN Indonesia and two Multatuli Project journalists along with activists were intercepted by the police while covering an action unfurling a huge red banner reading "Indonesia is not for Sale MERDEKA (FREEDOM)" that was hung from the Galang Island Bridge in North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan.
The action was organised by dozens of activists from Greenpeace, the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) and the Mining Advocacy Network (JATAM) as part of a series of commemorations marking Indonesia's 79th Independence Day.
The chronology, said AJI Advocacy Division Chairperson Erick Tanjung, began with the three CNN journalists departing using a wooden ship (klotok) along with four other passengers and one motorist at around 7.10 am.
The journalists and activists were divided into three groups using different boats to get to the action site. The journalists arrived at the location in the Lango Beach area on Kwangan Island at around 7.50 am. Communities affected by the construction of the IKN consisting of young people, children and mothers from seven villages in Balikpapan Bay had already gathered at the location.
The Independence Day commemoration ceremony held by the Civil Society Coalition together with residents began at around 9.42 am. The event took place solemnly and included the reading of a people's declaration accompanied by traditional Independence Day games and competitions.
At around 11 pm the journalists and activists then participated in procession using 14 boats to the Balang Island Bridge. Banners with messages criticising the government were also stretched out on the boats.
They arrived under the Balang Island bridge at around 12.05 pm. There they gathered in the boats and waited for the 50 meter red banner to be hung from the bridge. At that moment, a rubber boat from the North Penajam Paser water and air police unit (Polairud) arrived and asked about the activity. A few minutes later, two boats from the North Penajam sectoral police arrived to break up the action.
The journalists and activists then dispersed at around 12.17 pm and the group went to Maridan, the opposite direction from Balikpapan, to drop off the activists then return to the Balang Island Bridge.
The Journalists were stopped by officials under the Balang Island bridge at around 1 pm. They were asked to land, but refused because the journalists were going home after covering the event. They continued to be pressured with the officers, "Get off the boat! Are you afraid?", "If it's true, why are you afraid?", "Get off the boat quickly!" said the officers while repeatedly striking the roof of the boat.
At 1.15 pm the journalists decided to get off and follow the officers' instructions in order to avoid any unpleasantries as the situation was becoming less conducive. Officers were on guard everywhere and journalists were led towards a building with a Minister of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) logo, not far from the Balang Island Bridge.
The journalists were intimidated and asked about their purpose for being at the location. The journalists responded that they were there to cover the event but the officers just laughed.
There was also a debate between activists and dozens of joint units of TNI (Indonesian Military) and Polri (National Police) officers. Several of them asked for the journalists' mobile phones and ID cards, but this was refused. At around 2.55 pm, the journalists were allowed to return to the boat after the officers recorded their names and the media they worked for.
Meanwhile, dozens of activists were taken to the North Penajam Paser District Police (Polres) station for questioning without legal counsel.
At around 8.35 pm the journalists returned to their hotel in Balikpapan with a group of activists. During the journey, they were followed by a vehicle for around an hour. However they managed to evade it by entering small alleyways until they finally arrived the hotel safely. But upon arrival at the hotel, two people who appeared to be intelligence officers were seen guarding the lobby and observing the movements of the journalists and activists.
In response to the incident, AJI stated that journalists carrying out their professional duties are protected by the Press Law. Article 4 of the law emphasises that the national press cannot be censored, banned or prohibited from broadcasting. In order to guarantee press freedom, journalists have the right to seek, obtain and disseminate ideas and information.
These acts of intimidation violate Article 18 Paragraph (1) of the Press Law. Anyone who intentionally hinders or obstructs the work of journalistic carrying out their duties is subject to a prison sentence of two years or a fine of up to 500 million rupiah.
AJI also questioned the urgency of the police taking the journalists to the police station [sic] adding that the journalists covered the activists' action because it had high news value, was relevant and factual. Although in the end they were released, taking the journalists to the police station was a form of intimidation and obstructed their work.
The work of journalists' is protected by the Press Law and any form of intimidation, including taking journalists to a police station while covering a story, is a violation of the law. For the umpteenth time and repeatedly, the police have been shown to be the main actors against and the enemies of press freedom.
Therefore, AJI Indonesia is urging the authorities to investigate the arrest and intimidation of the journalists and activists. The police's actions damaged press freedom and the right to freedom of expression.
In response to the incident, AJI Indonesia:
1. Condemned the intimidation against journalists covering the "Indonesia Is Not For Sale" action. Coverage of this activist action is part of the public interest, has high news value, is relevant and factual.
2. Urged the police to take legal action against the officers who intimidated the journalists who were covering the event. This was an attempt to obstruct the journalists' work in seeking information as regulated in Article 18 Paragraph (1) of Press Law Number 40/1999.
3. Appealed to all parties to respect journalistic works and press freedom in Indonesia. Journalists, in carrying out their duties, are protected by law according to Article 8 of the Press Law.
4. Appealed to journalists to comply with the journalistic code of ethics in carrying out journalistic activities.
Jakarta, August 20, 2024
Nani Afrida, AJI Indonesia General Chairperson
Bayu Wardana, AJI Indonesia Secretary General
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "AJI Indonesia Kecam Intimidasi Terhadap Jurnalis ketika Liputan Aksi ‘Indonesia Is Not For Sale’".]
