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Attack on Activist Fuels Anger
Camelia Pasandaran & Dessy Sagita | July 09, 2010

The publication of this magazine has seen anti-corruption activists pitted against the police, with shadowy figures brutally beating one activist until he was hospitalized. (JG Photo) The publication of this magazine has seen anti-corruption activists pitted against the police, with shadowy figures brutally beating one activist until he was hospitalized. (JG Photo)
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Valkyrie
6:55am Jul 9, 2010

Mr. President, sir, why are you suddenly suggesting???Whether you like it or not, sir, YOU are responsible for the well being of this nation. Please command your Police to perform their obligations. Their wages come from our hard earned tax money.

peterR
2:26am Jul 9, 2010

“I ask for your favor, please don’t accuse us now,” Bambang said. “Don’t blame the police for these problems. We never asked our members to do it.”

Pathetic!!!

Yudhoyono suggested the attacks could be the work of a third party bent on sullying the image of the police.

Unbelievable!!!

“When I reported the arson, police accused me of burning my own house to gain popularity and pity."


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Thursday’s brutal attack on an antigraft campaigner has sparked more public outrage, coming hot on the heels of an attempted firebombing on Tempo magazine’s offices this week.

Tama Satrya Langkun, an investigator for Indonesia Corruption Watch, was attacked by four men on motorcycles. He suffered multiple wounds, including a head injury from a blunt object.

Tama featured prominently in an ICW investigation alleging millions of dollars stashed in the bank accounts of a number of police generals, while Tempo named the generals in a report.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono demanded police find out who was behind the assault on the investigator and the attack on the magazine’s office.

“We have to be very responsive and find out who did them,” Yudhoyono said on Thursday. “I want the ones who did these to be found, what the motives are and for what purpose.”

The Tempo bombing came on Tuesday, a few days after it published a report alleging six police generals had huge bank accounts. The bombing did minimal damage and there were no injuries.

National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri called on the public not to immediately accuse the police of being behind the violence.

“I ask for your favor, please don’t accuse us now,” Bambang said. “Don’t blame the police for these problems. We never asked our members to do it.”

He said police were already questioning witnesses and searching for clues. “Hopefully it will be solved soon,” Bambang said.

Yudhoyono suggested the attacks could be the work of a third party bent on sullying the image of the police.

“It is very possible that when two parties have differences and want to solve their problems, there’s another party,” he said.

Djoko Suyanto, coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, said that if any law enforcers were involved they would not escape punishment.

“They will be punished. Law enforcers are not immune to the law,” he said.

Activists from nongovernmental organizations across Indonesia expressed outrage about the attack on Tama.

The activist and a friend were riding a motorbike when two motorcycles blocked their path at Duren Tiga, Pasar Minggu at 3:45 a.m on Thursday. He was stabbed and beaten about the head until he nearly lost consciousness.

ICW chairman Danang Widoyoko said that despite the cowardly attack, the graft watchdog would not bow to “terror.”

“The terror attack carries a strong warning — whoever did this wants us to stop talking about corruption but we must remain brave,” he said.

Danang said the South Jakarta Police had posted two officers outside Tama’s hospital room but that he would not seek protection for other ICW staff members.

Agus Sugandhi, secretary general of Garut Government Watch, condemned the act as “total thuggery, done in the name of power” and “unacceptable.”

Agus, whose house was burned down in 2007 while he was investigating a corruption case in Garut, West Java, said a national movement was needed to force authorities to act firmly.

“When I reported the arson, police accused me of burning my own house to gain popularity and pity. That is why a national movement is needed to pressure them,” he said.

Hendardi, the chairman of the Seatara Institute for Democracy and Peace, said the attacks were a serious threat to anticorruption efforts and should not be underestimated.

House Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso said police should vigorously investigate the Tempo incident to determine if it was linked to the article. “If they don’t there will be growing suspicions against the national police among the public,” he said.

Benny K Harman, the chairman of House Commission III overseeing law, said he would ask police “to be objective in handling this case because there is a possibility the perpetrator is backed by a police general.”

Benny said the commission had demanded police set up an independent team that included outside representatives to probe the questionable bank accounts of high-ranking police officers.



Additional reporting from Armando Siahaan, Farouk Arnaz & Arientha Primanita