Journalist for iNewsTV in Bulukumba Regency, South Sulawesi, named Sudirman became a victim of police violence, while covering a student demonstration demanding the repeal of the Job Creation Law in Bulukumba, Monday, April 10, 2023.
The demonstration that led to clashes took place around the Lajae T-junction, Jl. Samratulangi, Bulukumba. At that time, Sudirman was passing around the location and saw student clashes. He saw that there were students lying in the middle of the road, being dragged away by the police who had secured the demonstration. Sudirman then took the initiative to cover and record pictures of the atmosphere at the venue.
Sudirman then took out his phone, then recorded a video of the student being dragged away by the police. Not even a minute into the recording, about 50 meters from the front, Sudirman was reprimanded by a number of plainclothes police.
"Don't take pictures there. Move, far away," said the police who rebuked Sudirman. Slowly turning off the recording on his cell phone.
The plainclothes police officer then approached and asked Sudirman to delete the video he had recorded. This policeman even hit journalist on the back with the palm of his hand, asking for the video to be removed. He was intimidated by yelling at Sudirman, while pointing a gun pointed at him, then insisted that the video be deleted.
Sudirman had told the police not to be arrogant like this. "This is violence, sir, if you block me from covering this, sir. I'm a journalist, I just want to cover this" said Sudirman. But the police still forced journalist to delete the video.
Sudirman has recorded more than one video, and he later deleted one video. However, some of the footage from other coverage was successfully secured. After that journalist was again asked to leave the location. The plainclothes police officer who intimidated Sudirman was identified as Aiptu Agus, he served in the Criminal Investigation Unit of the sector police in Bulukumba..
Journalist reported the case of violence he experienced to the division of professionalism and security of police in Bulukumba, on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Sudirman was faced with difficulties, because according to members of the police at the Bulukumba Police, if you want to report a policeman who has a problem, to be precise at the South Sulawesi Regional Police. After some time, the police on duty received Sudirman's report.
The victim along with two of his Regional Coordinator and Producer colleague from the South Sulawesi TV iNews Bureau, came to the AJI Makassar secretariat on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Then they reported officially the violence caser to the press legal aid agency Makassar, on Thursday, April 14, 2023.