The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Archipelago | Wed, May 01 2013, 3:10 PM
An unidentified group of people assaulted two journalists on
Tuesday. The journalists were covering clashes between residents and
police officers in Musi Rawas regency, South Sumatra, clashes in which
four people have been shot dead.
A video camera carried by Jumadi
Dedi, a Kompas TV journalist, was seized as he was taking footage of the
clashes. Another journalist, Zainul, was also attacked receiving
injuries to both hands. Their motorbike was also stolen.
Residents of Muara Rupit district blocked the Trans-Sumatra Highway on Tuesday following bloody clashes with the police.
The
clashes were sparked on Monday by the road blockade, which was being
held in protest at the absence of a clear government program to
establish a new regency, North Musi Rawas. The action caused severe
traffic congestion along the highway, which links South Sumatra and
Jambi.
Dedi said that the assault took place at about 2 p.m. on
Tuesday. The two journalists went to the location of the clashes when
suddenly a group of about ten armed men intercepted them on motorcycles.
“When
we were on our motorcycle all of a sudden we were confronted by a group
of people, and straight away they assaulted us with sharp weapons
cutting Zainul’s hands,” Dedi said via cellular phone, as quoted by
Antara news agency.
Dedi said that he and Zainul were rescued by
local residents near a plantation in Noan Baru village, Rupit district,
Musi Rawas regency.
The two journalists have reported the incident to Rupit Police precinct. (asw)
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