AJI Indonesia Records 61 Cases of Violence against Journalists in 2022

The need for information has now become a basic necessity that must be fulfilled. Reporting news that is of public interest should be an obligation for journalists. However, there are many challenges and rejections in the field when they cover crucial issues. In fact, many of them experience violence.

In this so-called democratic country, media workers are increasingly facing various forms of violence. The existing Press Law has not been able to protect journalists from threats and violence while carrying out their coverage work. Meanwhile, perpetrators of violence against journalists often escape legal consequences due to the power they hold.

Throughout 2022, cases of violence against journalists in Indonesia showed an increasing trend compared to the previous year.

The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia recorded 15 cases of physical violence, 15 cases of digital attacks, 10 cases of terror and intimidation, 5 cases of equipment destruction/confiscation, 4 cases of deletion of coverage results, 3 cases of legal prosecution, 3 cases of sexual violence, 3 cases of coverage prohibition, 3 cases of detention, and 1 case of news prohibition.

Increase in Violence against Journalists

The Advocacy Division of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia, Erick Tanjung, stated that threats to journalists do not only come from vague legal articles, but also from digital attacks, physical violence, verbal abuse, sexual violence, reporting and detention, and censorship.

"Throughout 2022, violence against journalists has increased compared to 2021," said Erick Tanjung in the AJI Year-End Review Press Conference 2022, quoted by Dream via a zoom meeting on Monday (16/01/2023).

"The most common attacks in 2022 were physical violence and equipment destruction," he added.

The compilation of various types of attacks in 2022 resulted in 61 cases of violence with 97 victims. This number increased from 43 cases in 2021. It should be noted that out of the 15 physical attacks on journalists, four of them were related to environmental and agrarian reporting.

For example, the case of Faisal, a journalist from AmperaNews who was subjected to violence while covering illegal gold processing in Mulyo Sari Village, Way Ratai Hamlet, Pesawaran Regency, Lampung on December 5, 2022.

Another finding is the violence experienced by Nurkholis Lamaau, an editor at cermat.id in Ternate, who was reported to have been beaten by relatives of an official in Tidore Islands when writing an opinion about coal dust.

Violence Begins to Occur Through Digital Means

The AJI report also shows that perpetrators of violence against journalists are dominated by state actors. Out of 24 cases of violence, 15 cases were allegedly committed by police personnel, 7 cases by government officials, and 2 cases by military personnel.

Meanwhile, there are 20 cases involving non-state actors, including 4 cases involving organizations, 1 case involving political parties, 6 cases involving companies, and 9 cases involving civilians. 17 other cases have not yet identified the perpetrators.

The Secretary General of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia, Ika Ningtyas, stated that the majority of perpetrators of violence against journalists are from the police.

"When there is violence against journalists, it is a form of silencing and an attack on press freedom," said Ika Ningtyas at the same event on Monday (16/01/2023).

Not limited to physical violence, attacks are also carried out through digital means, such as hacking personal accounts, taking over YouTube accounts, and DDoS attacks on online media sites. In 2022, there were 15 cases of such digital attacks, involving 43 editorial staff and 9 media outlets.

Cases of Violence against Female Journalists

The phenomenon of violence against journalists is also increasingly experienced by female media personnel. According to AJI's findings, a female journalist with the initials L in Makassar and EH in Papua experienced both physical and verbal violence.

The occurrence of various forms of sexual violence against journalists, according to Nani Afrida, the Gender, Children, and Marginalized Groups Division of AJI, necessitates the establishment of specific standard operating procedures (SOPs) to protect the victims. This is because sexual violence is unique and does not have a template, requiring special handling.

"Sexual violence is unique and does not have a template. It requires special treatment because it also involves psychology," she said.

According to Nani, the Press Council currently does not have SOPs regarding sexual violence. In addition to providing an understanding of gender-based violence, AJI is also working to formulate SOPs for handling cases of sexual violence among journalists.

Urging the Police to Carry Out Comprehensive Reforms

The violence experienced by journalists is different from the violence experienced by ordinary citizens. AJI considers violence against journalists as a symbol of silencing. As evidenced by reported cases, journalists experience violence after or while covering sensitive issues such as the environment, agrarian conflicts, corruption, and others.

Ika added that law enforcement against violence against journalists still does not adhere to the Press Law. Ultimately, perpetrators of violence against journalists by state actors tend to go unpunished.

"We (the Alliance of Independent Journalists) urge the Indonesian National Police to carry out comprehensive reforms. Attacks on press freedom are evidence of the death of democracy and the strengthening of authoritarianism by the ruling regime," she emphasized. (Sah)