The Indonesian Air Force has denied allegations that its soldiers physically abused photojournalists covering a demonstration in Palembang, South Sumatra, earlier this week.

Air Force spokesman First Marshall Azman Yunus said that on Wednesday morning, about 20 soldiers from the Palembang air base were trying to close down an illegal plantation along Jalan Harun Sohar, Palembang, when locals tried to block them.

He said the 4.5-hectare land was owned by the state and should be under the management of the Air Force. "The 20 soldiers from the air base were intercepted by about 50 people with sharp and blunt objects," he said on Thursday, according Antaranews.com. "Our soldiers were only trying to protect themselves."

Sriwijaya Post reported that photojournalist Kris Samiaji, of Sumatera Ekspress, was approached by 10 soldiers when he was taking photos of other soldiers allegedly beating up protesters.

"My camera was grabbed by a soldier," Kris was quoted as saying. "I was punched in the left ear. An examination at Bhayangkara hospital showed that there are bruises on my ear and also on my right ribs."

But Azman said that the soldier who grabbed Kris was instead trying to pull him away from the path of a speeding car.

"The one who said he was was pushed and fell down, and later said that he was a journalist, actually [the soldier who is] a member of the Palembang air base was trying to help him," he said, according to Antaranews.com. "So [he] was not beaten up."

Berita Pagi reporter Adi Kurniawan also reportedly suffered similar abuse when a soldier smashed the mobile phone he was using to record another soldier attacking the demonstrators.

"Later in the afternoon, dozens of journalists met the air base commander, including the one who was pushed," Azman said, referring to Kris. "They were told the reason [it happened] was that a car was passing by. The soldier who pushed [him] said he did not beat him up."

Palembang Air Base Commander Lt. Col. Adam Suharto apologized for the incident. "As far as I know, Air Force soldiers are committed to not being violent," he said on Thursday as quoted by Suarapembaruan.com. "Even if there was [violence], it was not intentional. I'm ready to discuss with journalists to solve this problem."

Adam said that the soldier, who he identified as Jimmi, also told him he was only trying to save Kris from being hit by a car.