ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION – URGENT APPEALS PROGRAM
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-005-2021
April 16, 2021
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INDONESIA: Journalist Brutally Attacked While Carrying Out Media Coverage
ISSUES: Freedom of expression, freedom of the press, access to justice, fair trial, impunity
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Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding violence against a journalist, Mr. Nurhadi, a correspondent journalist for Tempo Magazine. He became a victim of maltreatment and was brutally attacked while conducting media coverage. The violence against Nurhadi occurred when he put forth an analysis report. It was related to the Director of Investigation of the Directorate General of Taxation of Ministry of Finance, Mr. Angin Prayitno Aji. It was a case of a tax bribe handled by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
CASE NARRATIVE:
On Saturday, 27 March 2021, about 06.25 p.m. Mr. Nurhadi arrived at Gedung Samudra Bumimoro located in Jalan the Moro Krembangan, Morokrembangan, Krembangan sub-district of Surabaya city. Mr. Nurhadi entered the building there in order to conduct an investigation. It concerned the case of an alleged bribe taken by the Director of Investigation of the Directorate General of Taxation of Ministry of Finance, Mr. Angin Prayitno Aji.
The case of Mr. Angin Prayitno Aji is being handled by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
As Mr. Nurhadi entered the building, a wedding reception was being held for each child of Mr. Angin Prayitno Aji and (Police Commissioner) Kombes Pol. Achmad Yani, former Chief of Bureau of Planning of Provincial Police of East Java.
At 06.40 p.m., Mr. Nurhadi went into Gedung Samudra Bumimoro to conduct an investigation and photograph the Director of Investigation of the Directorate General of Taxation of Ministry of Finance, Mr. Angin Prayitno Aji. He was standing on the aisle with a relative by marriage.
Around 07.57 p.m., while Mr. Nurhadi was still in the building, he took pictures of people in the wedding party.
Around 08.00 p.m., Mr. Nurhadi exited the building. He was stopped by several members of various Committees. He was asked about his identity and his invitation to attend the event.
Around 09.00 p.m. the bride’s family was requested to confirm whether they knew Mr. Nurhadi. After the bride’s family said that they did not know Mr. Nurhadi, he was brought to the back yard of the building. Here he was pushed by an adjutant of Mr. Angin Prayitno Aji. During the process, Mr. Nurhadi’s mobile phone was seized (held by the family of the bride). Then, verbal and physical violence and a death threat took place.
Around 08.30 pm Mr. Nurhadi was brought out by a person who was allegedly a member of the Indonesian Military guarding the building. Mr. Nurhadi then entered a patrol car and was brought to the Military Post. In the military post, Mr. Nurhadi was asked for an explanation about his identity.
Around 08.45 p.m.: After questioning his identity, Mr. Nurhadi was then taken to the Resort Police Office of Tanjung Perak port.
Around 08.55 p.m: Before arriving at the Police Resort, Mr. Nurhadi was returned to the Samudra Bumimoro building. At the building, once again, Mr. Nurhadi was grilled. They stated they were Police Officers, alleged Military personnel, and the adjutant of Mr. Angin Prayitno Aji.
Throughout the process of interrogation, again, Mr. Nurhadi was attacked (beaten, kicked, slapped and threatened with murder). Mr. Nurhadi was forced to accept money, in the amount of IDR. 600,000, as compensation for camera damage and other tools of media coverage.
The Journalist refused the money. However, the doer forced the victim to take it. He even took a photograph of the victim receiving the money. At this time the money was concealed by Nurhadi in a part of his car.
Around 10.25 p.m: After conducting a process of integration of violence, Mr. Nurhadi was next brought to the Arcadia Hotel located on Jl. Rajawali No. 9-11, Krembangan Selatan, Krembangan District, Surabaya. At the hotel, he was interrogated by two persons. They admitted to being members of the Metropolitan Police and foster children of the Police Commisioner Achmad Yani namely Mr. Purwanto and Mr. Firman.
Sunday, 28 March 2021, around 01.10 a.m. the journalist was released from the Arcardia Hotel and arrived home at 02.00 am.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
In 2020, according to the Alliance of Independent Journalist (AJI), cases of violence against journalists had increased to an all-time high. Most of the cases were associated with intimidation tactics. AJI received reports of 84 cases of violence against journalists in 2020.
In 2019, relating to Freedom of the press. The cases of violence perpetrated against the work of journalists’ amounted to 53 cases–despite being lower than 2018 that saw 64 cases of violence, AJI Chairman Abdul Manan said that the statistics were still above average for the past ten years. The cases range from physical violence (20 cases), journalists’ tools or data tampering (14 cases), threats of violence or terror (6 cases), criminalization (5 cases), and preventing a journalist from reporting (4 cases).
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the Authorities listed below. Request the following action. Ask them to ensure that the perpetrators, who brutally attacked and committed violence against the journalist, Mr. Nurhadi, be held responsible and prosecuted by the Courts under the Fair Trial Principle. The investigation must be conducted in a transparent, accountable and accessible manner.
The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression and Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
INDONESIA: A Journalist brutally attacked while carrying out media coverage
Name of victim: Mr. Nurhadi, Indonesian journalist
Names of alleged perpetrators: Allegedly State Apparatus personnel
Date of incident: on Saturday, March 27, 2021
Place of incident: Gedung Samudra Bumimoro located on Jalan, Moro Krembangan, Morokrembangan, Krembangan sub-district, Surabaya city.
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding violence against a journalist, Mr. Nurhadi, a correspondent journalist for Tempo Magazine. He became a victim of mal-treatment and was brutally attacked while conducting media coverage. The violence against Nurhadi occurred when he put forth an analysis report. It was related to the Director of Investigation of the Directorate General of Taxation of Ministry of Finance, Mr. Angin Prayitno Aji. It was a case of a tax bribe handled by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
On Saturday, 27 March 2021, about 06.25 p.m. Mr. Nurhadi arrived at Gedung Samudra Bumimoro located in Jalan the Moro Krembangan, Morokrembangan, Krembangan sub-district of Surabaya city. Mr. Nurhadi entered the building there in order to conduct an investigation. It concerned the case of an alleged bribe taken by the Director of Investigation of the Directorate General of Taxation of Ministry of Finance, Mr. Angin Prayitno Aji.
The case of Mr. Angin Prayitno Aji is being handled by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
As Mr. Nurhadi entered the building, a wedding reception was being held for each child of Mr. Angin Prayitno Aji and (Police Commissioner) Kombes Pol. Achmad Yani, former Chief of Bureau of Planning of Provincial Police of East Java.
At 06.40 p.m., Mr. Nurhadi went into Gedung Samudra Bumimoro to conduct an investigation and photograph the Director of Investigation of the Directorate General of Taxation of Ministry of Finance, Mr. Angin Prayitno Aji. He was standing on the aisle with a relative by marriage.
Around 07.57 p.m., while Mr. Nurhadi was still in the building, he took pictures of people in the wedding party.
Around 08.00 p.m., Mr. Nurhadi exited the building. He was stopped by several members of various Committees. He was asked about his identity and his invitation to attend the event.
Around 09.00 p.m. the bride’s family was requested to confirm whether they knew Mr. Nurhadi. After the bride’s family said that they did not know Mr. Nurhadi, he was brought to the back yard of the building. Here he was pushed by an adjutant of Mr. Angin Prayitno Aji. During the process, Mr. Nurhadi’s mobile phone was seized (held by the family of the bride). Then, verbal and physical violence and a death threat took place.
Around 08.30 pm Mr. Nurhadi was brought out by a person who was allegedly a member of the Indonesian Military guarding the building. Mr. Nurhadi then entered a patrol car and was brought to the Military Post. In the military post, Mr. Nurhadi was asked for an explanation about his identity.
Around 08.45 p.m.: After questioning his identity, Mr. Nurhadi was then taken to the Resort Police Office of Tanjung Perak port.
Around 08.55 p.m: Before arriving at the Police Resort, Mr. Nurhadi was returned to the Samudra Bumimoro building. At the building, once again, Mr. Nurhadi was grilled. They stated they were Police Officers, alleged Military personnel, and the adjutant of Mr. Angin Prayitno Aji.
Throughout the process of interrogation, again, Mr. Nurhadi was attacked (beaten, kicked, slapped and threatened with murder). Mr. Nurhadi was forced to accept money, in the amount of IDR. 600,000, as compensation for camera damage and other tools of media coverage.
The Journalist refused the money. However, the doer forced the victim to take it. He even took a photograph of the victim receiving the money. At this time the money was concealed by Nurhadi in a part of his car.
Around 10.25 p.m: After conducting a process of integration of violence, Mr. Nurhadi was next brought to the Arcadia Hotel located on Jl. Rajawali No. 9-11, Krembangan Selatan, Krembangan District, Surabaya. At the hotel, he was interrogated by two persons. They admitted to being members of the Metropolitan Police and foster children of the Police Commisioner Achmad Yani namely Mr. Purwanto and Mr. Firman.
Sunday, 28 March 2021, around 01.10 a.m. the journalist was released from the Arcardia Hotel and arrived home at 02.00 am.
Therefore, I respectfully urge you to ensure that the perpetrators, who brutally attacked and committed violence against the journalist, Mr. Nurhadi, be held responsible and prosecuted by the Courts under the Fair Trial Principle. The investigation must be conducted in a transparent, accountable and accessible manner.
Yours Sincerely,
……………….
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Joko Widodo
President of the Republic of Indonesia
Jl. Veteran No. 16
Jakarta Pusat
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3458 595
Fax: +62 21 3484 4759
E-mail: webmaster@setneg.go.id
2. Mr. Yasonna Laoly
Minister of Law and Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav. 6–7
Kuningan, Jakarta 12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 525 3006, 525 3889
Fax: +62 21 525 3095
3. Dr. Mualimin Abdi SH., MH
Director General of Human Rights
Office of the Director General of Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav. 6–7
Kuningan, Jakarta 12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 5253006
Fax: +62 21 5253095
4. General of Police Listyo Sigit Prabowo
Chief of National Police (KAPOLRI)
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3 Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan 12110
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 384 8537, 726 0306
Fax: +62 21 7220 669
E-mail: info@polri.go.id
5. Ms. Poengky Indarti
Commissioner of the National Police Commission
Jl. Tirtayasa VII No. 20
Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 739 2315
Fax: +62 21 739 2352
E-mail: secretariat@kompolnas.go.id, skm@kompolnas.go.id
6. Mr. Bambang Soesatyo
Chairperson of the Commission III of The House of Representative
Ketua Komisi III DPR RI
Gedung Nusantara II DPR RI, Lt I
Jalan Jenderal Gatot Subroto, Jakarta,
INDONESIA
Telp : +62 21 -5715566, +62 21-5715569, +62 21-5715864
Fax : +62 21 5715566
7. Mr. Drs. Hasto Atmojo Suroyo, M.Krim.
Chairperson of the Agency for Victims and Witness Protection
Lembaga Perlindungan Saksi dan Korban (LPSK)
Jalan Raya Bogor KM. 24 No. 47-49, Susukan, Ciracas, RT.6/RW.1, Susukan, Ciracas, Kota Jakarta Timur, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 13750
Tel: +62 21 29681560
Fax: +62 21 29681551 / +62 21 29681557
8. Mr. Ahmad Taufan Damanik
Chairperson of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM)
Jl. Latuharhary No. 4-B
Jakarta 10310
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 392 5227-30
Fax: +62 21 392 5227
E-mail: info@komnas.go.id
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Program
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
