The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Jakarta and the Press Legal Aid Institute (LBH Pers) noted that at least 11 (eleven) journalists who were reporting in the Jakarta area became victims of violence by members of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) while covering the demonstration rejecting the Pilkada Bill in Jakarta, August 22, 2024.

Irsyan Hasyim, Chairman of AJI Jakarta, explained that the number of journalists or reporters who became victims is likely to continue to increase considering that the activities of covering demonstrations and data tracing are still ongoing.

"Fellow journalists who were victims of intimidation and violence by the authorities experienced almost the same and similar patterns. Starting from psychological intimidation, death threats, abuse, beatings resulting in serious injuries to bleeding heads," said Isryan in his press statement, Saturday (8/24/2024).

In addition, said Irsyan, the scheme of using excessive force such as tear gas is also a violation of the provisions of the Chief of Police Regulation Number 1 of 2009 concerning the Use of Force in Police Actions.

He said, AJI Jakarta and LBH Pers are trying to document the chronology of cases experienced by a number of journalists.

Through X's post, the @iyaslawrence account , it was discovered that two Makna Talks Podcast cameramen - Edo and Dory were injured due to the actions of the police who forced, without warning, threw tear gas and forcibly attacked.

A similar incident was also experienced by Angga Permana – a journalist from statistik.com who suffered a head injury while covering the action in front of the DPR.

M and H, TEMPO journalists, were hit by tear gas and beaten by police for recording the mass arrest incident. TNI and Polri personnel allegedly beat and threatened to kill Tempo journalist with the initials H who was covering a demonstration at the DPR RI Parliament Complex on Thursday, August 22, 2024.

"The violence began when journalists were recording TNI and Polri officers who were suspected of abusing a demonstrator who was slumped near the fence on the right side of the main gate of the DPR RI Building which was broken through by the masses at around 17.00 WIB," he explained.

Meanwhile, an IDN Times journalist said that he experienced threats, intimidation and his cellphone was almost confiscated by officers at the scene.

Live coverage conducted by one of the Narasi.tv journalists at around 20.30 WIB also recorded the incident of intimidation and being forcibly pulled away by officers.

"He (narasi.tv journalist) was forcibly pulled by officers to leave the location and pushed until he fell while covering the event. Another Narasi.tv journalist also experienced intimidation while covering the persecution carried out by officers against demonstrators in the Pedestrian Bridge (JPO) area around the DPR-RI building," said Irsyan.

"The same pattern was also experienced by Gita, a Deduk journalist who was again forcibly pulled away by the authorities. Journalists from Konteks.co.id and IJTI also suffered injuries and lacerations to their heads while reporting in front of the DPR," he added.

AJI Jakarta and LBH Pers emphasized that physical, mental and psychological violence against journalists carried out by the Police in order to hinder and obstruct the work of journalists is a violation of the provisions of Article 4 of the Press Law which guarantees the right to freedom of the press to seek, obtain and disseminate ideas and information as well as the provisions of Article 18 paragraph (1) of Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press "Any person who unlawfully intentionally carries out an action which results in obstructing or obstructing the implementation of the provisions of Article 4 paragraph (2) and paragraph (3) shall be punished with a maximum imprisonment of 2 years or a maximum fine of IDR 500 million."

The finding of acts of violence by police officers in the form of abuse resulting in serious injuries to journalists while carrying out their profession is a criminal act regulated in Article 351 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) with a penalty of 5 (five) years in prison.

Based on documentation routinely carried out by AJI Jakarta and LBH Pers, violence against journalists by police officers seems to have become a deep-rooted culture.

Throughout 2023, at least 89 cases of violence against journalists were recorded. This condition is exacerbated by the presence of impunity practices through a protracted delay scheme, where until today reports of attacks experienced by journalists while covering have not been completed even though they have been officially reported to the National Police. The National Police's ethical sanctions are not enough to punish the alleged perpetrators of violence and indicate that the National Police are immune to the law considering that none of them have ended up in court.

Even though journalists have equipped themselves with press attributes and distinguishing identities at the demonstration location, they are still the target of police violence. The police's excuse that 'journalists' press cards are invisible', as well as the plan to use the Red and White Ribbon that was once proposed by the Police as a distinguishing feature, have not been realized until now.