Intan Setiawanty, Jakarta – The Legal Aid Institute for the Press or LBH Pers urges the National Police Headquarters to thoroughly investigate the case of terror against Tempo. LBH Pers Director Mustafa Layong stated that this attack is not the first and has occurred systematically, reflecting impunity for the perpetrators.
LBH Pers, together with Tempo, the Committee for Journalist Safety (KKJ), and the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), reported this case to the National Police Headquarters on Friday, March 21, 2024, a day after a package containing a pig's head was found in front of Tempo's office. However, there has been no official summons for clarification or an Examination Report until now.
"We hope that the National Police Headquarters will take firm action and not be embarrassed again by the perpetrators who are still at large," said Mustafa during a virtual press conference on Sunday, March 23, 2025.
Because, he said, the attack on Tempo has occurred repeatedly and has a clear pattern. Previously, in September and August 2024, unknown individuals vandalized the car belonging to the journalist and host of Tempo's Politik Bocor Alus show, Hussein Abri Dongoran. However, there has been no significant progress regarding the report.
Mustafa also pointed out the police's response that has not shown seriousness in handling this case. He mentioned that when a joint force of officers from the Jakarta Metro Police and the National Police Headquarters visited Tempo's office, they did not bring an assignment letter. The officers, Mustafa said, only interviewed witnesses and examined the evidence, which comprised the pig's head and six decapitated rats.
In the report to the National Police Headquarters, LBH Pers emphasizes that this attack is not just a threat to Tempo, but to press freedom in general. Mustafa assessed that this act of terror is a serious violation of journalists' rights guaranteed by Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press.
He stated that the Press Law clearly orders the state to provide legal protection to every journalist in carrying out their duties. "But what happened was, the second attack occurred after Tempo reported to the National Police Headquarters. This seems to indicate that the perpetrators are not afraid of legal threats."
LBH Pers also urges the police to enforce Article 18 Paragraph 1 of the Press Law, which prohibits acts that obstruct journalistic work. In addition, they demand the application of Article 335 of the Criminal Code concerning unlawful acts of violence that coerce someone into not doing something.
Furthermore, Mustafa said, the government must also take a firm stance against this attack. He considered the government's response tends to underestimate the threat to journalists and disregard their safety.
Even on the same day as the pig's head package was sent, there was a demonstration demanding the halt of Politik Bocor Alus. There was also digital misinformation accusing this segment as part of a national disintegration program.
Mustafa revealed that the police had verbally conveyed that initial examinations would be conducted next week. However, until now, they have not received official information regarding the schedule and procedures.
"The police must prove the motive behind this attack-whether it is related to Tempo's critical reporting or for other reasons," Mustafa said.