JournalismPakistan.com | Published 6 years ago
Join our WhatsApp channel
Several journalists were attacked outside a court in West Jakarta by a gang leader on March 27, 2019.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) have condemned the assault on journalists and urged the authorities to prosecute the perpetrator.
The gang leader, Hercules Rosario Marshal, was in court in West Jakarta. When he arrived, he stepped out of the car where waiting media met him. Hercules immediately started verbally and physically assaulting the press before he was taken to a holding room. As photographers tried to take his photo, he was chased, and the rest of the media fled the scene.
FS, an online journalist who did not want to disclose his name due to safety concerns, was recording the video when the incident happened. He tried to escape but got trapped between parked cars. FS was punched in the face by Hercules which caused swelling and bruising.
FS noted that he did not see any police officers on guard at the location. Hercules later published an online video and issued an apology. He said he was too emotional because of the verdict.
AJI said assault on the media is a violation of the press laws which guarantee legal protection for journalists as they do their jobs. “We urge the police to prosecute Hercules as the perpetrator and bring him to court and sentence a punishment as heavy as possible as a deterrent effect to stop the attacks of journalists in the future,” AJI added.
In Indonesia, journalists are a target for attacks and physical harassment. All the cases of violence and abuse against journalist reported in Jakarta remain unsolved.
The IFJ said: “The local authorities in West Jakarta failed to ensure the protection and safety of journalists. We again remind all parties in Indonesia that protection of journalists whilst they are on duty is stated under the Press Law. Aside of that, we stand with AJI to urge the authorities to take action and bring perpetrators to justice.” – IFJ media release/Photo: Tribun Kaltim
November 01, 2025: Pakistan Press Foundation reports 137 attacks on journalists in 2025, highlighting rising threats, legal harassment, and censorship on the International Day to End Impunity.
November 01, 2025: A viral Samaa TV clip featuring MNA Sher Afzal Marwat’s crude remarks and Talat Hussain’s laughter raises questions about the declining ethics of Pakistani television.
October 31, 2025: Police foiled a plot to kill DawnNewsTV journalist Tahir Naseer in Rawalpindi after arresting suspects hired for Rs200,000. Naseer says threats followed his reporting.
October 31, 2025: CPJ calls on Pakistan to bring Imtiaz Mir’s killers to justice after the journalist was allegedly murdered by a banned militant group in Karachi.
October 30, 2025: The PFUJ has condemned a fabricated drug case against journalist Matiullah Jan, calling it an attempt to silence him and urging authorities to quash the charges immediately.
October 30, 2025: NewsOne TV remains on air but faces mass layoffs and delayed salaries, exposing Pakistan’s worsening media crisis and financial instability.
October 28, 2025: Sindh Police arrested four suspects linked to a banned outfit in the murder of journalist Imtiaz Mir, who was shot in Karachi in September 2025.
October 26, 2025: Riffat Ara Alvi, the mother of slain Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, has died, ending her relentless fight for justice following his killing in Kenya in 2022.
November 01, 2025 Belarus court jails journalist Siarhei Chabotska for extremism and defaming the president, highlighting Minsk’s ongoing crackdown on press freedom.
November 01, 2025 Mexican journalist Miguel Angel Beltran was found murdered in Durango. CPJ urges authorities to ensure justice amid rising violence against journalists in Mexico.
November 01, 2025 UNESCO survey finds one-third of media lawyers cannot effectively defend journalists due to threats, limited resources, and lack of specialization.
October 31, 2025 Radio Free Asia, a US government-funded broadcaster covering tightly controlled Asian media environments, has suspended all news operations after federal funding dried up.
October 30, 2025 PSL franchise fees lag far behind IPL's USD 18.5B valuation as Pakistan Cricket Board's bureaucratic grip stifles growth. Hard numbers expose a stark reality.