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Indonesian journalists up in arms over reporter's murder

Demas Laira found stabbed to death after accusing officials of graft in handling Covid-19 pandemic
Indonesian journalists up in arms over reporter's murder

Members of Indonesia’s Alliance of Independent Journalists mark World Press Freedom Day in Jakarta on May 3, 2019. (Photo: Konradus Epa/UCA News)

Published: August 25, 2020 07:56 AM GMT
Updated: August 25, 2020 08:01 AM GMT

Indonesian journalist groups across the country have called on police to quickly find the killer of a reporter in West Sulawesi found dead along a roadside last week with multiple stab wounds.

Hundreds gathered in several regions, including Catholic-majority East Nusa Tenggara province, on Aug. 24 to protest the killing of Demas Laira, a contributor to several local online publications.

Laira was found murdered on Aug. 21 in Tasokko, West Sulawesi, with 17 stab wounds on his body.

Fellow journalists protesting outside the police station in Mamuju, the capital of West Sulawesi province, believe Laira’s death was connected to recent articles that criticized local authorities.

Shortly before his death, he wrote stories accusing officials of corruption related to the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and in developing infrastructure in Central Mamuju district.

“In light of this we want police to immediately establish the truth behind his death,” said Revolusi Riza, general secretary of the Alliance of Independent Journalists Indonesia (AJI). “The police investigation must be transparent.” 

According to the AJI, at least 324 Indonesian journalists have been murdered, beaten or intimidated since 2015. Eight murders of journalists have yet to be solved, Riza said.

Mursalim Madjid, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Journalist Association (PWI) in West Sulawesi, also condemned the murder.

”We urge the police to bring the mastermind to justice as quickly as possible,” he told UCA News.

West Sulawesi police chief Insp. Gen. Eko Budi Sampurno said on Aug. 24 that police would leave no stone unturned in the hunt for Laira’s killer.

"We are collecting evidence and appealing for witnesses," he said as he called on interested parties to let police settle the case.

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