Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has described the alleged intimidation targeting Tempo magazine and one of its journalists last March as an effort to “stir conflict” among the public.
In an exclusive interview with senior journalists from major media outlets at his private residence in Bogor, West Java, on Sunday, Prabowo expressed concern over the terror attacks against Tempo.
“I think the perpetrators want to stir conflict, want to create a bad atmosphere,” he said in response to a question from Alfito Deannova Gintings, editor-in-chief of Detikcom, as aired on state broadcaster TVRI on Tuesday.
On March 19, Tempo's Jakarta office received a package from an anonymous sender. The package was specifically addressed to Francisca Christy Rosana, a journalist on Tempo’s political news desk.
When she opened the package on March 20, it was found to contain a severed pig’s head with its ears cut off. Both Tempo and Rosana believed it was intended to intimidate them.
Prabowo also addressed the response by Presidential Communication Office (PCO) Chief Hasan Nasbi, who on March 21 had quipped that the pig’s head should “just be cooked.”
Nasbi’s comments drew public criticism, with many viewing them as inappropriate or even mocking the attack on press freedom. He later clarified that his remarks were intended to “prevent the perpetrator from instilling fear” and achieving their goal of intimidation.
“I think his remarks were careless. It was wrong. I believe he regrets it now,” the president said.
Less than a week later, on March 22, Tempo received another threatening package—this time containing six decapitated mice.
Police investigations into the attacks on Tempo are ongoing.
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Translator: Genta Tenri M, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Anton Santoso
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