TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Jakarta Asnil Bambani Amri condemned the intimidation experienced by a Detikcom journalist while was reporting “defend the Tauhid” rally on Friday, November 2.

“AJI Jakarta reminds the public that hampering journalistic activities can be criminalized and jailed for a maximum of two years under Press Law (UU) Article 18 of 1999 with a fine up to Rp500 million,” said Asnil in a written statement Tempo received on Sunday, November 4.

He also asserts that such form of intimidation against journalists threatens press freedom.

The intimidation Asnil refers to is the one experienced by a Detikcom journalist who took pictures of the trash that were spread at the rally area, which was followed by intimidation made against the journalist by rally participants.

They went as far to force the journalist to delete the images through a heated interrogation session. “Under increasing amount of pressure, the image was deleted by the journalist,” said Asnil.

He also revealed that the journalist was doxed, a term describing a practice of broadcasting private information of an individual without consent, by an Instagram account under the name @jasmevisback who uploaded images of the journalist’s personal ID card and press card.

“A Facebook account under the identity of Tryas Ramandest also uploaded the journalist’s ID card and press ID card accompanied by a hateful message as its caption,” said Asnil.

AJI Jakarta urged the police to take legal actions against the intimidation to set an example for future cases that might happen again.

RYAN DWIKY ANGGRIAWAN