Indonesia: Investigate Killings of Journalists and Their Families

(Jakarta) Indonesia Police and the military should investigate a deadly arson attack on a journalist and three of his family members in the small town of Kabanjah, North Sumatra, Human Rights Watch said today. While three men have been arrested, authorities should also question other possible accomplices.

Rico Sempurna Pasaribu, 47, owner of Tribata TV in Medan, and his family were found dead in Their cabin On June 27, 2024, a shooting occurred in Kabanjah. The dead included his wife Elparida Ginting (48), his daughter Sudi Investi Pasaribu (12) and his 3-year-old grandson Louin Arlando Situngkir, who the Pasaribus family was taking care of that night. Eva Meliani Pasalibu,twenty two, Son died in fireis currently fighting for justice.

“Indonesian police should conduct a credible and time-bound investigation to identify all those involved in the attack, including military personnel,” he said. Meenakshi GangulyDeputy Director of the Asia Division at Human Rights Watch. “The military should work with the police to ensure that any officers involved in gambling and arson are appropriately prosecuted.”

On June 22, Tribata TV published Pasaribu’s report on its website, “The gambling den on Captain Bom Ginting Street was originally owned by a non-commissioned officer from the 125th Battalion of the Army.The report also included a photo of a house that was said to be the office of the illegal online gambling operation and said it was close to the barracks of the 125th Battalion of the Kabanjah Army.

Although the article was unsigned, Pasaribu Posted a link on his Facebook pageand said the gambling operation was controlled by an officer he revealed by name.

After the report was released, the soldier allegedly threatened Pasarib, according to the Medan Journalist Safety Committee, which released the first report on the arson incident. The soldier also asked Tribata TV editor-in-chief Edrin Adriansyah to record it According to Adriansyah and the committee, the report is a report. Both have refused to take it down.

The Journalists Safety Committee, a coalition of groups including the Union of Independent Journalists and the Medan Legal Aid Institute, the capital of North Sumatra province, said Pasarib had reported that the soldier had threatened him, according to some of his fellow journalists, and that he decided not to go home for several days for fear of being attacked.

Bayu Vardana, Secretary General of the Union of Independent Journalists Expressing concerns about being covered up“The case warrants special attention due to suspected military involvement,” he said. “Shortly before his death, Rico had reported on online gambling activities allegedly backed by members of the military.”

A military spokesman said authorities had questioned the soldier named in the report but found he was not involved in gambling. Human Rights Watch says the Indonesian military has a long history of protecting its soldiers from prosecution for human rights abuses.

Gambling is a rampant social problem in Kabanjah, the capital of Karo Regency. On June 26, several religious organizations held a protest outside the 125th Battalion headquarters, demanding an end to gambling operations.

Pasaribu came out of hiding to cover the protests and published Report on Tribata TV website. he still Posted some photos on his Facebook page.Then he went home.

According to CCTV footage, the attack took place at 3:40am on June 27. North Sumatra police have Three suspects arrested: Yunus Saputra Tarigan, also known as Selewang, Rudy April Sembilanand Mian JintingPolice and the commission said the wooden house was part of a shop where Pasalibu’s wife sold snacks, cigarettes and kerosene and the fire broke out quickly.

Police said they had questioned 28 witnesses. One of the arrested, 62-year-old Ginting, was Indonesia’s Youth Resurgence The AMPI is a youth group affiliated with Golkar, one of Indonesia’s largest political parties, which had official ties to the Indonesian military during President Suharto’s three decades in power.

Indonesian authorities have failed to arrest suspects in killings of journalists over the past 30 years, including the 1996 murder of Fuad Mohammad ShafruddinHe had published several news reports on corruption in Bantul Regency in the months before his death.

Year 1999, Sander Thornesa Dutch journalist working for the Financial Times, was killed by soldiers from the Indonesian Army’s 745th Battalion in Bekora, outside Dili, East Timor. Major Jacob Jocko SarosaThe battalion commander was charged by Indonesia’s Human Rights Commission for the killings, but he never responded to the summons.

“The brutal killing of Sempurna Pasarib and his family should serve as a warning to Indonesian authorities that political protection emboldens criminals, including by punishing journalists and whistleblowers,” Ganguly said. “Soldiers who engage in corruption, extortion, threats, or killings should know that they have no business remaining in the military and should be put in jail.”