http://jakartaglobe.id/news/violence-journalists-expected-rise-2017-lbh-pers/
Violence Against Journalists Expected to Rise in 2017: LBH Pers iJakarta. Legal Aid Institute for the Press, or LBH Pers, has predicted violence against journalists will rise next year on the back of elections across the country. The statement cites the simultaneous elections to be held in 101 regions which could cause tension in the lead up. It also points to the controversial Electronic Information and Transaction (ITE) Law which could target journalists. “The estimation is based on the three, regional elections, narrow ethno-nationality and the law that eases reports over an individual to the police. It will create more cases to be reported to the police,” LBH Pers executive director Nawawi Bahrudin said on Wednesday (28/12). LBH Pers head of research and network division Asep Komarudin added regional elections tends to always be a trigger in increased violence against journalists. He called on supporters of regional election candidates to use mechanisms regulated within the Press Law, rather than take matters into their own hands. “In 2016, there are new trends of criminalizing not only the journalists, but also their sources. The Press Council stated that the statement from the source, which was then made news, has a mechanism regulated in the Press Law,” Asep said. LBH Pers found incidents of violence against journalists doubled in 2016 with 83 cases, compared to 47 in 2015, blaming a lack of strong law.
