Yemris Fointuna, Kupang – The police have named the head of a community health center in North Rahong district in Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara, a suspect allegedly responsible for violence against three journalists.
The police also questioned several officials involved in the case as witnesses.
Manggarai Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Hambali said Wednesday the community health center's head, Albertus Wili Dugis, was named suspect after the police found he was involved in the abuse. "We are currently questioning other officials," he said.
Dozens of journalists from the Alliance of Manggarai Journalists have called the police to thoroughly investigate the case.
Their demand was made when alliance members visited the Manggarai legislative council to ask for political support in ensuring a legal process for the case.
Alliance coordinator Kanis Lina Bana said abuse of the three journalists by the center's head, along with other medical workers, were serious acts, obstructing them from practicing journalism.
"We demand the Manggarai Police immediately detain and legally process those responsible for the attack," he said.
"We want the Manggarai legislative council members to take stern action and push for the regent to follow up the case and punish civil servants involved in the case."
Employees of Wango community health center were infuriated by a report that made local headlines alleging they had been failing to attend work, putting people's lives at risk.
In the incident, the three journalists – Ferdi Ambo, state-run station TVRI contributor, Melki Pantur from the Suara Flores weekly and Maksi M.D. from Sukses Indonesia tabloid – suffered serious facial injuries in the attack and were taken to RSUD Ruteng Hospital.
Melki was reported to have suffered injuries to his head and ear. Two others suffered facial injuries and breathing problems after they were kicked.
Melki said they went to the community health center to follow up reports that patients there had to pay illegal fees and that many of the centers employees had not shown up for work.
"We came to confirm the information with the center's officials," he said. The center's chief, he said, requested an assignment letter for the interview and rejected their ID cards.
"The center's chief became emotional, uttering harsh words. Soon, employees rushed in and beat us up. We couldn't fight back. We were outnumbered," Melki said.
The mob, he said, punched, kicked and attempted to strangle them, as well as smash their cameras and tear apart their ID cards.
"We fled to safety with ojek [motorcycle taxi] and reported the case to the police before receiving medical treatment at hospital," said Ferdi.
The case was the second in East Nusa Tenggara this year after earlier, four journalists, including Timor Express reporter Linda Makandolu, were terrorized when covering a graft trial in Soe Court in South Timor Tengah late June.