Sentani, Jubi – Jayapura Police Chief AKBP Dionisius VDP Helan has apologised over the alleged intimidation of a Jubi journalist by one of his officers during the policing of a West Papua National Committee (KNPB) demonstration in Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Papua, on Monday, 3 August 2026.

Helan said he had received reports that a police officer had an altercation with a Jubi reporter while officers were securing the demonstration.

He said the incident was not intentional but acknowledged that, as head of the Jayapura Police, he remained responsible for the actions of his personnel.

"As the Jayapura Police Chief, I would like to apologise to the media and to the journalist for the actions of my officer. I cannot justify what my officer did," Helan said on Monday afternoon.

He said officers at the scene may have believed someone was interfering with their security operation. However, he stressed that such circumstances could not justify actions that harmed journalists or obstructed their work.

Helan said Jayapura Police would improve communication with the media to prevent similar incidents from occurring, noting that journalists are important partners in informing the public and providing constructive criticism of police performance.

"We rely on journalists to report and provide information to the public, while also helping to oversee our work through criticism and constructive feedback," he said.

The police chief also said he was prepared to take responsibility for any losses suffered by the journalist, including damage to reporting equipment caused by the actions of police officers.

"I will not avoid responsibility for what my subordinate has done, becausee the actions of every officer are ultimately my responsibility as police chief," he said.

Helan added that no officer had been instructed to harm journalists or obstruct their work, suggesting the incident occurred amid the fluid and tense circumstances of the security operation.

The apology follows allegations that a police officer damaged the mobile phone of Jubi reporter Silpester Kasipka while he was covering the peaceful KNPB demonstration in Sentani on Monday.

Kasipka said the incident occurred as he attempted to photograph police officers placing a protester into a crowd-control vehicle on Ifar Gunung Road in Sentani District.

According to Kasipka, a police officer struck his mobile phone, cracking the screen, despite him identifying himself as a journalist carrying out his reporting duties.

"I explained that I was doing my job, just as the police officers were doing theirs, but he ignored me. Instead, he angrily struck my phone and said, 'Yeah, we know you're working, but don't overdo it,'" Kasipka recalled, quoting the officer.

Source: https://en.jubi.id/jayapura-police-chief-apologises-over-alleged-intimidation-of-jubi-journalist