Terror against the Mass Media in Indonesia, Threat to Press Freedom: Media Freedom is your Freedom |
The terror against the editorial office of Tempo, a leading media in Indonesia, continues. After previously being sent a pig's head, Tempo was again sent a box containing six dead rats with their heads severed, Saturday (3/22/2025). This incident only happened one day after the media reported the case of sending pig heads to the police.
Not only journalists, the journalists' families were also terrorized with threats via WA.
This series of incidents shows that there is a serious problem with press freedom in Indonesia. This case should not only be interpreted as an act of terror against a mass media office that has been known to work professionally. This case is a threat to press freedom in Indonesia.
What happened to Tempo was an attempt to silence press freedom. The terror of pig heads and dead rats does not occur in a country with a government that can accept criticism happily. Moreover, President Prabowo Subianto has emphasized many times that his government is not anti-criticism. A statement that must be proven by attitude and followed by his subordinates, regardless of who is behind the terror against the mass media.
Looking at several investigative reports and podcasts or podcasts Bocor Alus Tempo which are critical of certain parties, the terror acts can be suspected of being directed at supporters of certain parties, especially from government circles. However, these allegations must still be based on the principle of presumption of innocence.
To ensure this, it is the police's duty to reveal the perpetrators so that the public does not speculate. Although high-ranking police officers are often criticized, the professional attitude of the Police is highly anticipated. The Chief of Police, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, has ordered the Head of Criminal Investigation to immediately investigate the terror.
Not only the mass media, the wider community and all civil elements are waiting for the performance of the police. If it is not revealed, then the belief that the government is behind the terror will be stronger, regardless of whether it was carried out with orders or not.
The terror against Tempo is not only a threat to the media alone, but also a threat to press freedom as a whole and a threat to freedom of expression. What Tempo experienced could also be experienced by other mass media that are critical of the government. The action of sending pig heads and dead rats is an attempt to silence criticism, whether from the mass media, academics, NGOs, or other civil elements.
It is unfortunate that terror against the mass media is carried out in an open environment through digital platforms like today. Sharp criticism is increasingly freely voiced through various channels, including social media. If we listen to the voices of netizens, criticism is conveyed in a sharper tone, without balance, by directly tagging the accounts of related officials and even the President. So, criticism from the mass media is still within the limits according to Law Number 40/1999 concerning the Press and the Journalistic Code of Ethics.
The perpetrators or anyone who supports the terror acts should understand that patterns like those during the authoritarian government cannot possibly be carried out in the digital era like today. The expected impact of fear will not occur, instead civil society will speak out even louder and ultimately weaken the authority of the government itself.
So, the public is waiting for the performance of the police to reveal the perpetrators and figures behind the pig's head and the rat carcass.[]
