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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Reports of violence against journalists in Indonesia have increased, followed by a decline in the national press freedom index (IKP). The 2024 Press Freedom Index (IKP) survey showed a decline to 69.36 compared to 2023 which was at 71.57. This is a fairly sharp decline compared to the 2022 IKP which reached 77.88.
Quoted from the Press Council page, the 2024 IKP value of 69.36 is included in the "Quite Free" category. This value decreased by -2.21 points compared to the IKP value in 2023. The scores in each environment are in almost the same range, which is around 67-70, which indicates that the condition of national press freedom is in the "Quite Free" category in all environments. However, the Economic Environment has the lowest score, which is 67.74, the Physical & Political Environment has a higher score, which is 70.06, and the Legal Environment has a score of 69.44.
"The decline in the IKP figures shows that the condition of the national press is not good. This can be seen from the economic, legal, and political environment that influences the national IKP figures," said the Chairperson of the Press Council, Ninik Rahayu, when opening the Launch of the Press Council's 2024 IKP Survey Results held at the Gran Melia Hotel Jakarta, Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
One of the Press Council's recommendations, to thoroughly handle cases of violence against journalists, in addition to the Police, other law enforcement officers such as the Attorney General's Office and the Supreme Court also need to oversee the fair and complete law enforcement process, by prioritizing the implementation of the Press Law and prioritizing civil law over criminal law in legal cases involving the press.
In addition, in increasing press freedom from intervention and independence from powerful interest groups, the Press Council needs to continue more massive socialization regarding the importance of independent and professional journalism and the differences between press companies verified by the Press Council16 and those that are not to help local governments build healthy partnerships with press companies.
Violence Against Journalists Throughout 2024
Journalists in Indonesia are still vulnerable to violence. Most recently, the office of the Pakuan Raya Daily (PAKAR) media in Bantarjati Village was allegedly burned down by unknown persons (OTK) on Saturday, December 28, 2024.
Bogor City Police Chief Sr. Comr. Pol. Bismo Teguh Prakoso in Bogor City, said that his party was conducting an investigation. The crime scene investigation (TKP) has been carried out by Inafis. "Next, we will coordinate with the Forensic Laboratory, and continue examining witnesses," said Bismo as reported by Antara on Saturday, December 28, 2024.
An online motorcycle taxi driver named Aditia who witnessed the incident admitted to seeing two unknown men riding a motorbike. Upon arriving at the Warung Jambu Police Post which is right in front of the PAKAR Daily editorial office, he said, one of the men got off the motorbike and walked towards the TKP.
"The people were carrying cardboard and gasoline in a plastic mineral water bottle, then immediately burned the front of the PAKAR office. Meanwhile, another perpetrator was waiting on a motorbike," he said.
Meanwhile, this incident that threatens press freedom is not the first to occur throughout 2024. Previously, three members of the Indonesian Navy also assaulted Sukandi Ali, a journalist from South Halmahera on Thursday, March 28, 2024. At that time, the victim was picked up without an official letter by two Indonesian Navy soldiers in uniform.
"So, this journalist victim was indeed picked up without an official letter. This means that this is an arbitrary action carried out by the two Indonesian Navy soldiers," said Erick Tandjung, a member of the Press Council Journalist Violence Task Force, in a press conference at the Press Council Building, Gambir, Central Jakarta, on Monday, April 1, 2024.
Sukandi was then taken to the Indonesian Navy post at the Panamboang Fisheries Port, in South Halmahera, on South Bacan Island, North Maluku. There, Sukandi was interrogated about his writing regarding the arrest of a ship carrying fuel suspected of belonging to the Indonesian Navy's Ditpolairud.
Erick said that during the interrogation, Sukandi was beaten, kicked with boots and whipped with a hose by three Indonesian Navy soldiers. Sukandi was asked why he wrote the news without interviewing the Indonesian Navy. However, he admitted that he had previously interviewed one of them (the Indonesian Navy).
In addition, two Tempo journalists who covered the MK Verdict Guard action at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, on August 22, 2024, also became victims of repressive actions by the authorities. The two journalists were Y and H.
Y was hit by tear gas and trampled by the masses who scattered to save themselves. Meanwhile, H was beaten and kicked by the authorities because he recorded the moments when one of the MK Verdict Guard action participants was lying down being abused by officers.
The abuse of H was also witnessed directly by a Kompas journalist with the initials W. W, who was also covering the riot behind the fence, saw H suddenly surrounded by officers. W witnessed firsthand the beating of H. "I saw H being kicked when H was brought to the post," W told Tempo.
Furthermore, intimidation was also experienced by a journalist who fills Tempo's Bocor Alus Politik podcast, Hussein Abri Dongoran. On August 5, Hussein's car window was smashed by two people riding a motorcycle. The incident occurred not far from the official residence of the Chief of the Indonesian National Police, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo.
Andi Adam Faturahman, Dimas Kuswantoro, and Adinda Jasmine Prasetyo contributed to the writing of this article.
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