Intan Setiawanty, Clara Maria Tjandra Dewi, Jakarta – Press Council will summon journalists who are suspected of being involved in police report manipulation in the shooting case of SMKN 4 Semarang students. This summons is also addressed to the management of CNN Indonesia to provide clarification.
"We from the Press Council will request clarification from CNN Indonesia's management and the respective journalists," said the Chairperson of the Press Council, Ninik Rahayu, in her written statement on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
The case started from a police report mentioning that the shooting occurred during the dispersal of a clash between groups. However, Semarang Police and the Central Java Regional Police denied that narrative. The police stated that the shooting was triggered by a vehicle collision and had no relation to the clash.
The Press Council revealed that in the news coverage of the case, there was manipulation by journalists who collaborated with the police as alleged perpetrators of the shooting. The journalist is suspected of helping to craft a narrative to cover up violations by police personnel.
According to Ninik, journalists must work following Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press and the Journalistic Code of Ethics. "We will emphasise this in the clarification process to ensure the issue is revealed," said Ninik.
Regarding the summons' timing, Ninik said it would be further coordinated.
The written statement from the Press Council also mentioned that CNN Indonesia stated they are conducting internal investigations and are committed to preparing information to be conveyed to the public. Tempo tried to contact Yenita Achyar, Head of HRD at CNN Indonesia, on Wednesday night but has not responded.
In this case, a student from SMK 4 Semarang, GRO, was killed after being shot by a member of the Narcotics Detective Unit of the Regional Police with the initials RZ on Sunday, November 2024. According to the Semarang Police Chief, Commissioner Irwan Anwar, the initial incident involving GRO began during a clash in the Simongan area, West Semarang. He stated that RZ fired the shot after facing resistance from GRO when trying to break up the clash.
Later on, it was proven that the reason for the shooting was not the clash. The Head of the Jateng Regional Police's Propam Bureau, Commissioner Aris Supriyono, mentioned that the motive for Police Officer RZ shooting Gamma, a student in the Mechanical Engineering Department of SMK Negeri 4 Semarang, on November 24, was not to disperse the clash. However, Corporal RZ felt his vehicle was side-swiped.
At that time, RZ had just returned from the office and was passing by a group of teenagers playing tag in the opposite direction. One of the motorcycles then brushed against RZ's vehicle. "The suspect (Corporal RZ) then waited for them to turn around, and then the shooting occurred," he said during a meeting with the DPR Commission III, also attended by Semarang Police Chief Commissioner Irwan Anwar on Tuesday, December 3, 2024.
Findings from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) revealed that the students were initially just gathered to play futsal, not involved in a clash. They were shot without warning as they were about to go home. The Press Council appreciates the Police for their transparency in handling this case. Correction of the initial narrative is considered important to build public trust. Ninik mentioned that they take this allegation seriously because it involves the basic principles of journalism.