JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post / Pacific Media Watch): NGOs and journalists have petitioned the Indonesian government to declare a national day dedicated to no violence against journalists.
The call was made on Friday at an event held to mark the 18th anniversary of the murder of Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin, also known as Udin.
Pito Agustin Rudiana of Yogyakarta’s chapter of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) told the Jakarta Post that at least 12 journalists had been murdered since 1996.
“We want the date [August 16] set as the anti-violence against journalists day because Udin’s murder drew attention both domestically and internationally,” Pito said.
The AJI is still campaigning for Udin's killer to be brought to justice. Udin died after being beaten unconscious in his house. He was an outspoken critic of the local government in the area that he was assigned to cover - Bantul.
The AJI told the Jakarta Post that criminal law dictates that any unresolved cases expire after 18 years, and so Udin’s case would have expired on Saturday.
“But, we say no to that and want the police to continue investigating the case seriously and thoroughly,” the AJI said.
One suspect in the case had been acquitted but the AJI blamed this on a shoddy police investigation. The AJI has called for a more "thorough investigation".
They say the case sets a bad precedent for press freedom in Indonesia.
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Pacific Media Watch
