Jakarta – A group of journalists on Saturday held a rally at the Democratic Party (PD) central executive board office in Rawamangun, East Jakarta, to protest a violent attack on a journalist during a vice presidential candidate campaign tour Friday.

The group marched from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) office, Central Jakarta, to the office. "We want an apology and explanation from (Susilo Bambang) Yudhoyono on the attack," one of the protesters said.

The protesters also questioned whether Yudhoyono really supported press freedom as he had promised during his campaign.

Journalist Odeadata (not Odeodata as previously reported) Julia from the Sinar Harapan daily was attacked at the Swissbell Hotel in Jayapura, Papua, on Friday during the campaign tour of Boediono, SBY's running mate.

Odeadata sustained a back injury and was left unconscious after the attack. Witnesses identified Odeadata's assailant as a PD cadre named Rudolph.