Firda Janati, Ambaranie Nadia Kemala Movanita, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Director Usman Hamid is urging the state, including law enforcement authorities, to conduct an investigation after the Tempo editorial office was again terrorised.
After a package containing a pig's head was sent to Tempo on March 20, Tempo editors received a second shipment in the form of a box containing six beheaded rats on Saturday March 22.
"We urge the state, including law enforcement authorities to immediately and without more delay officially investigate, thoroughly investigation and punish the perpetrators and the masterminds in court with an appropriate sentence", explained Hamid in a statement on Saturday.
Hamid said that if it is not investigated, then becoming an Indonesian journalist or activist who is repeatedly terrorised is similar to a death sentence rather than a profession.
"Threats against journalists and activists are a threat against freedom of the press and expression which has continued to occur after Tempo again received a package of rat corpses today", he said.
Amnesty condemns acts of terror that make journalists fearful of revealing the truth to the public
"This series of terror are an attack on the work of critical journalism that seeks to reveal the truth to the public regarding the policies of the government and the legislation process in the problematic DPR [House of Representatives]", said Hamid.
The legal and security authorities must proactively investigate the existence of this terror and ensure it is not repeated. "The police must immediately reveal the perpetrators and the mastermind behind the series of terror [attacks] against Tempo", he added.
According to Hamid, this terror is an act of intimidation that violates human rights because it creates fear for anyone who wishes to reveal the truth. Moreover, Tempo has dared to report issues such as crime and security. Media like Tempo should not be threatened.
"These terror crimes, like all other crimes, must be investigated independently and impartially and all those suspected of being responsible must be tried", he said.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Tempo Diteror Kepala Babi dan Bangkai Tikus, Amnesty International: Usut Tuntas Dalangnya".]
