Nurcholis Lamau, an editor with online news outlet Cermat, was repeatedly assaulted and harassed by Tidore Island’s deputy mayor and members of his family after publishing an article on air pollution. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), in condemning the acts of intimidation and calls on the Indonesian authorities to bring those responsible to justice.

Following the release of an article which included sections of a speech given by Deputy Mayor Muhammed Sinen at the opening of a domino tournament in Rum Village, Lamau was harassed and intimidated by relatives of the Deputy Mayor on August 29 and assaulted at his home by Sinen’s nephew the following morning.

On August 31, Sinen’s brother approached Nurcholis’ mother-in-law to demand Cermat drop the article, which quoted Sinen as saying that residents would be “rewarded” for inhaling dust from a steam-electric power plant.

Sinen’s brother said the article should be removed on the basis that the Deputy Mayor had not been on duty when the comments were made. He also stated that the piece could risk tarnishing Sinens reputation and undermine his chances at the next local election. Shortly after the incident, Cermat deleted the article from its website.

While attending a local police station to file a report of the incident, Nurcholis encountered the Deputy Mayor himself, with Sinen reportedly grabbing the journalist’s face.

Journalists and media workers are frequently the victims of harassment, intimidation, and assault in Indonesia. In the past month, at least two journalists were assaulted by public order agency officers while covering an Independence Day ceremony in Palu, Central Sulawesi.