Shinta Maharani, Yogyakarta – Herlambang Perdana Wiratraman, a constitutional law and human rights researcher at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), has urged the police to thoroughly investigate the terror attack against Tempo, involving a package containing a pig's head sent on March 19, 2025.
According to Herlambang, the police must handle this case seriously to prove their professionalism and integrity.
"If the police are not serious, they are complicit in tolerating terror against journalists," he said on March 21, 2025. He emphasized that the public needs to see law enforcement acting decisively to protect press freedom.
Herlambang views this act of terror as an intimidation tactic against journalists exposing crimes affecting the public interest. He warned that in authoritarian and fascist regimes, such threats are allowed to persist, creating a dangerous environment for the press. However, he remains confident that Tempo journalists will not be deterred from producing impactful investigative reports.
The Journalist Safety Committee (KKJ), consisting of the Alliance of Independent Journalists of Indonesia and the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation, has officially reported the case to the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri). The KKJ considers the incident a serious threat to journalistic work and press freedom.
Previously, a package containing a pig's head, wrapped in a cardboard box, was delivered to Tempo journalist and Bocor Alus Politik podcast host, Francisca Christy Rosana (Cica). The severed pig's head, with its ears cut off, emitted a foul odor, intensifying concerns over intimidation attempts.
Following the attack, support for Tempo has continued to grow from various groups, calling for stronger protections for journalists and press freedom in Indonesia.