"There is no reason to justify arrogant and violent acts and the military police should investigate it," Indra of the Prosperous Justice Party Faction (FPKS) of the House of Representatives (DPR) said
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A legislator has criticized the attack by military personnel on journalists covering the crash of an Air Force jet-fighter in Riau on Tuesday.

"Journalists are protected by the law in carrying out their journalistic activities. No one is allowed to hamper journalists from covering an event, let alone attacking them, destroying nor confiscating their equipment," Indra of the Prosperous Justice Party Faction (FPKS) of the House of Representatives (DPR) said here on Wednesday.

He said that the attack on journalists by soldiers of the Air Force in Kampar District, Riau province, was an arrogant and unprofessional act shown by certain individuals of the Air Force personnel.

"There is no reason to justify arrogant and violent acts and the military police should investigate it," Indra said.

He said that his side urged the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Commander to take stern actions against his subordinates who did the maltreatment.

"I am sure the TNI commander would not let the public assumption emerge that he is protecting or justifying the violent acts done by his subordinates," the lawmaker said.

He also expressed hope that the TNI chief or the Air Force commander would not defend his subordinates with trumped-up reasons.

Soldiers allegedly attacked five journalists attempting to take pictures and cover the crash of an Indonesian Air Force jet in Pekanbaru, Riau, on Tuesday, choking one photojournalist and confiscating cameras from two others.

A BAE Systems/British Aerospace Hawk 200 fighter jet crashed during a routine flight over Penkanbaru at 9:30 Tuesday morning.

But when journalists arrived at the scene, soldiers with the Indonesian Air Force reportedly became hostile.

Soldiers allegedly beat and choked photojournalist Didik Herwanto, of the Riau Pos. "I was covering [the crash] and the distance was quite far," Didik said adding "I was about to take picture of the aircraft wreckage."

But he was then allegedly attacked by the soldiers guarding the site. "Fortunately, there was a soldier that knew me and who intervened," he said.

Antara`s Febrianto B. Anggoro said he was struck on his shoulders and stomach by soldiers. "Those who mobbed [me were] more than ten people in uniform, some of them [in] a sports uniform, [others in an] orange uniform like a pilot and the uniform of the military special corps [Paskhas]," Febrianto said.

Four other journalists were reportedly abused by soldiers at the scene, including Fakhri Rubianto, of Riau Televisi; Ari, of TV One; RTV`s Irwansyah and Andika, of Vokal.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012