Slamet Susanto, Yogyakarta – Activists are demanding the police solve the 17-year-old case of murdered Yogyakarta journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin, widely known as Udin, before it must be closed next year in accordance with the criminal code.
In addition to the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) – which has repeatedly pushed the police to solve the case – and other organizations, a new solidarity forum was recently established by a group of local journalists to put pressure on investigators to act.
Ibnu Taufik, coordinator of the solidarity forum, said the forum was formed to expedite the handling of the case and to help the police in an appropriate capacity.
"The solidarity forum was formed without affiliation with existing journalist associations," said Ibnu, adding that the group welcomed members of other organizations, such as AJI, the Association of Indonesian Journalists (PWI) and others.
He said the solidarity forum – which was conceived during informal chats at an angkringan (traditional food stall) and fleshed out in discussions with chief editors of local media outlets and representatives of national media in Yogyakarta – had also visited government institutions and other groups in the community to garner more support.
"The case is crystal clear. Sri Roso Sudarmo, former Bantul regent, in an interview with a magazine admitted that he was indirectly involved [in the case]. But the police never followed up," Ibnu said.
Udin was allegedly beaten by an unidentified person or persons in his house in Bantul on August 13, 1996, and died three days later at the Yogyakarta Bethesda Hospital without regaining consciousness.
The journalist was known for his critical reports alleging the misappropriation of funds by authorities in the Bantul regency, where Udin had been assigned.
The police once arrested Dwi Sumadji, also known as Iwik, on allegations that he had murdered Udin in connection with a love affair he was having with Udin's wife, but the Bantul court later acquitted Iwik over lack of evidence.
Udin's widow, Marsiyem, expressed hope that with the establishment of the solidarity forum and support from the wider community the case would finally be solved.
"We can expect it to be clear who the perpetrator was," said Marsiyem, expressing confidence that Udin's murder was directly tied to his reporting.
M. Irvan, a journalist based in Bantul, voiced the community's commitment to getting justice for Udin. "We will never let the case go unsolved. We will try hard to help reveal what happened," said Irvan.