Indonesia: RSF condemns police violence against journalists covering protests
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the attacks on at least fourteen Indonesian journalists covering the mass protests against a new law that expands the military’s role in civil affairs. The NGO calls on President Prabowo Subianto to take immediate action to end this violence and ensure that transparent, independent investigations are conducted to hold those responsible accountable.
On 24 March 2025, Rama Indra, a journalist for the online media outlet Beritajatim, was violently assaulted by police officers while filming the brutal arrest of a protester in Surabaya, a city in eastern Java. Three officers surrounded him, forced him to delete his footage and confiscated his phone before repeatedly striking him on the head with a baton. That same day, police officers forced journalist Wildan Pratama from the online news site SuaraSurabaya to delete a video showing the arrest of student protesters while as he covered the same demonstration.
These incidents are not isolated cases. Since 20 March, at least fourteen journalists and journalism students have been attacked by police and unidentified individuals while covering nationwide protests against the recently passed law that strengthens military control over the civil administration.
“Nothing justifies police brutality against journalists. We urge President Prabowo Subianto to take immediate steps to ensure that law enforcement respects the protection of journalists when they’re covering the news and that independent, transparent investigations are conducted to bring those responsible for these attacks to justice.
A newsroom threatened with macabre parcels
Beyond physical attacks on the ground, journalists are also facing intimidation within their newsrooms. On 19 and 22 March, the Jakarta office of the independent magazine Tempo, which has closely followed the opposition movement against this law, received two disturbing parcels, the first containing a bloodied pig’s head with its ears mutilated and the second containing decapitated rat carcasses. The police say they are investigating the incidents.
In Indonesia, journalists covering police violence are frequently targeted. In August 2024, at least eleven reporters were attacked by police while covering protests against electoral reform in Jakarta, the capital, and Bandung, another major city. Despite legal protections for press freedom, journalists in Indonesia continue to face regular violence. The country ranks 111th out of 180 in the RSF 2024 World Press Freedom Index.
