Indonesia: Journalists assaulted while reporting on tin mining dispute

Three suspects have been arrested after an assault journalists reporting on a tin mining dispute between residents and local authorities in the Bangka Belitung Islands, off the southeastern coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, on March 7. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI) Indonesia, in condemning the attack and urge authorities to take swift action to ensure the perpetrators are held accountable by the law.

Two of the three journalists reporting on a tin mining dispute were attacked and then detained at a warehouse of sand mining company PT Putra Prima Mineral Mandiria. Credit: MCW News/Tiktok

Two of the three journalists reporting on the incident were attacked and then detained at a warehouse of sand mining company PT Putra Prima Mineral Mandiria (PT PPMM), while trying to cover a dispute over the regulation of tin management in the area of Air Anyir Village, Merawang District, Bangka Regency.

Frendy Primadana, of TV One, Dedy Wahyudi, of Beritafakta.com, and Wahyu Kurniawan, of Suarapos.com were alerted to a commotion at a PT PPMM warehouse, stemming from tensions between residents and officials over allegations that residents were mining and processing illegal tin sand. At the time, military officers from Indonesia's Tri Cakti Task Force were conducting inspections of supplier trucks when the dispute escalated into a brawl.

The three journalists were attempting to report on the dispute, but were denied entry to the factory's premises by security officers, despite showing press cards. When Wahyudi began filming, he was allegedly punched multiple times in the face by a truck driver. Kurniawan managed to escape, but security guards and the truck driver caught the remaining journalists as they attempted to flee. After being physically assaulted, they were then allegedly detained for an hour, receiving death threats and intimidated into recording an apology video. Their telephones were also confiscated and they were forced to delete all their recordings.

The journalists were subsequently rescued by police officers and taken to Air Anyir General Hospital for treatment. Both suffered injuries, with Frendy Primadana later referred to intensive care three days later due to his worsening condition from facial injuries.

Babel Regional Police confirmed the arrest of three suspects, including the truck driver, a PT PPMM security officer and employee. If convicted, they could face up to seven years in prison. PT PPMM has also allegedly been accused of illegally shipping zircon out of their designated Mining Business Permit (IUP) area in Bangka Island, with calls for authorities to conduct investigations.

AJI said: "The assault on journalists Frendy Primadana and Dedy Wahyudi constitutes a serious violation of press freedom as guaranteed under Indonesia's Press Law (Law No. 40/1999), which affirms that journalists have the right to seek, obtain, and disseminate information without intimidation or violence. Acts of physical assault, threats, and coercion are not only criminal offenses under general law but also directly undermine the legal protections afforded to the press."

The IFJ said: "This intimidation and violence must be condemned in keeping with the laws that are there to protect journalists in Indonesia. There must be a full and transparent prosecution of those responsible, and the company also held to account for the actions of its employees."