Bangkok, September 3, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by reports of journalists being assaulted, harassed, and threatened while covering recent nationwide protests in Indonesia, and calls on authorities to swiftly investigate the incidents and hold those responsible to account.
At least 16 journalists have reported physical attacks, verbal threats, equipment confiscation, and other forms of intimidation while covering demonstrations that erupted on August 25 and have sparked unrest in major cities and provincial centers, according to news reports and the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), an independent local press group.
“Targeting reporters during civil unrest is unacceptable and violates the public’s right to be informed,” said Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative. “President Prabowo Subianto’s administration must act decisively to end these attacks on the press and ensure that journalists can report freely and safely on the protests.”
Bayu Pratama, a photojournalist with the state-run Antara News Agency, was physically assaulted by a baton-wielding police official in front of the House of Representatives in the capital Jakarta while covering a crowd control operation.
He said he was repeatedly struck despite displaying his press credentials, resulting in injuries to his left hand, and that his camera was damaged in the attack.
Rovin Bou, a reporter with local outlet Balitopik.com, was grabbed by the neck and kicked from behind by police officers while live-streaming a demonstration in front of the regional police headquarters on the island of Bali, according to news reports. Police also confiscated his mobile phone and personal bag.
Several journalists in Bali were threatened by police who ordered them not to photograph or record video of the demonstrations or crowd control operations, according to statements by local press groups, including the Indonesian Television Journalists Association and AJI Denpasar.
Indonesia’s National Police and Bali Regional Police did not immediately respond to CPJ’s emailed request for comment.
This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by CPJ Staff.
This post was originally published on Radio Free.