The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is appalled at the attack on the
office of its affiliate organisation in Indonesia, the Alliance of Independent
Journalists (AJI) by cadre of a youth organization in the city of Palu in the
Central Sulawesi province on December 30.
The attack
which was reportedly in retaliation for an item published by AJI in the online
news portal run by its local office left Mohammad Sharfin, local correspondent
of national broadcaster TV One, with serious injuries on his cheek. Iwan
Lapasere, chairman of the AJI's local branch and correspondent for a TV
broadcaster based in the national capital of Jakarta, was also brutally
assaulted and suffered injuries on his neck.
"We fully
support the AJI demand that the attackers, who have reportedly been identified,
be arrested and prosecuted under relevant sections of the law," said the IFJ
Asia-Pacific.
"We are
worried at the undistinguished record of investigating and punishing acts of
violence against journalists. Statistics compiled by AJI show that of 37 cases
in Indonesia through calendar year 2010, only 2 cases have been brought to
trial."
The IFJ fully
endorses the demand by AJI that ending the culture of impunity is key to
securing press freedom and the right to information in Indonesia.
For further information contact IFJ
Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919
The IFJ
represents more than 600,000 journalists in 125 countries
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