Ismira Lutfia – Press advocacy groups are pushing for a public trial for a military officer accused of beating up an Acehnese journalist, despite sanctions already imposed on the officer.

Ahmadi, a reporter for Harian Aceh newspaper, was allegedly beaten on May 21 by Faisal Amin, an intelligence officer from the Simeuleu military district command, or Kodim, over a news report on illegal logging in the province's Simeuleu island.

Major Yuli Marjoko of the Iskandar Muda military command told the Jakarta Globe that "we immediately have taken internal sanctions against the accused officer on Friday shortly after the assault happened and he has been stripped of his position."

Hendrayana, the chairman of the Jakarta-based Legal Aid Foundation for the Press, known as LBH Pers, said the group would urge the police to investigate the case and prosecute the officer in a public trial.

"The verbal apology from the military regional commander did not [eliminate] the ongoing legal process," Hendrayana said.

Yuli said the military had formed a team to investigate the case. He said it would collect evidence and testimonies from witnesses at the crime scene in Simeuleu. However, he said that the case would be processed in a military tribunal.

Mukhtaruddin Yakob, the chairman of the Banda Aceh chapter of the Alliance of Independent Journalists told the Jakarta Globe that the press community in Aceh is demanding that the officer be prosecuted in public court despite an offer from the Kodim to settle the case amicably.

"We want the accused officer to be dismissed from his position," Mukhtaruddin said. "But we have explained to them that this move should not be judged as an anti-military attitude."