Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) in a letter to JokoWidodo, President of Indonesia expressed
concern over the attack at Soni Misdananto journalist for Net TV by army personnel.
PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali in his letter urged the Indonesian government to take
action against those military officers who were involved in both the incidents where journalists
were attacked, intimidated and harassed.
According to Alliance of Independent Journalists and Southeast Asian Press Alliance, on October
2, Misdananto was making video recording of the collision of military vehicle with a civilian’s
vehicle during the annual festival. Army personnel saw him recording and started to beat him
and forced to hand over his camera footage and identity cards to them. They destroyed the
memory card and threatened Misdananto not to discuss that with anyone. They used a curved
iron to beat him, punched in the left cheek, and kicked in the body.
This incident is the second incident in two months where military personnel were involved in
attacking journalists. Almost two months ago, seven journalists were attacked including a
female journalist, who was sexually harassed, by members of the Air Force in Medan, North
Sumatra.
