Jakarta – The Independent Journalists Alliance (AJI) bestowed the Udin Award, an award for journalists who have become victims of violence due to their work, to a Sun TV correspondent, the late Ridwan Salamun, on Friday.

Ridwan was lynched by local residents of Tual, Maluku, last year, while he was trying to report a brawl.

The members of the jury – Poengky Indarti from human rights watchdog Imparsial, Bekti Nugroho from Indonesian Television Journalists Association and Eko Maryadi from AJI – said Ridwan was chosen from several other strong candidates because he was not only a victim of a cruel murder but also of case brokers.

On the same day, the AJI presented the Tasrif Award to Tessa Piper, Media Development Loan Fund program director for Asia, for her long dedication to freedom of the press since the New Order era.

Tasrif Award is an award for journalists or other figures who have contributed to freedom of the press, or have fought injustice or corruption.

Both awards were presented during the AJI's 17th anniversary event on Friday at the National Gallery in Jakarta.

At the event, the AJI also presented the S.K. Trimurti Award to Kathe Vince Dimara, the director of community radio station Pikon Ane Radio located in Yahukimo in Papua. Yahukimo is a remote area whose districts are separated by mountains and rivers, therefore the existence of Pikon Ane Radio is an important source of information for locals.

S.K. Trimurti Award is given to female journalists or activists who fight for gender equality, freedom of expression and freedom of information.