The car of Tempo Media Group investigative journalist Hussein Abri Dongoron was vandalised in a targeted attack in Jakarta on August 5, with authorities unable to confirm the assailants’ motives. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliates, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia and SINDIKASI, condemn the attack and urge authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident and hold those responsible to account.

On August 5, Tempo journalist Hussein Abri Dongoran was travelling home from a meeting with a source at Senayan City Mall, South Jakarta when his car was vandalised by two unknown assailants travelling on a motorcycle.

Hussein, known for covering politically sensitive issues, including corruption and governmental misconduct, parked his car after hearing suspicious noises while driving and discovered the rear window of his vehicle had been shattered. The following day, Hussein and attorneys representing the news outlet reported the incident to the South Jakarta Police. Despite the absence of CCTV cameras monitoring the location as confirmed by security officers at a nearby Ministry of Public Works and Housing building, police determined that the act of vandalism did not appear to be a robbery attempt.

Tempo editor-in-chief, Setri Yasra, stated that the outlet could not confirm the attack’s motive, and were waiting on the South Jakarta Police to arrest those responsible for the attack. Yasra further stated “the police investigation should shed light on this incident. We hope to determine if this is a criminal act or an act of journalist intimidation”.

In a joint statement, AJI Indonesia’s Jakarta Chapter and the Legal Aid Institute for Press (LBH Pers) called on authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and conclude other pending cases involving violence against journalists. The organisations added that if the crime was linked to Hussein’s work as a journalist the assailants should face charges under sections of the Press Law relating to the protection of journalists in their professional activities.