By UCA News reporter
INDONESIA – A Catholic woman journalist in Indonesia received a package containing a pig’s head from an unknown sender, in what is suspected to be an act of intimidation.
Francisca Christy Rosana works at the political desk of Indonesian news magazine Tempo and hosts a popular podcast.
Rosana was one of three journalists from Indonesia to accompany Pope Francis on his plane during his visit to Asia-Oceania countries in September last year.
In a statement, Tempo said the package – a cardboard box lined with Styrofoam – was received on March 19. It was addressed to “Cica,” the nickname of Rosana and contained a pig’s head with two of its ears cut off. It was already rotting.
Rosana’s weekly podcast “Bocor Alus,” posted on Tempo’s YouTube channel and Spotify, focuses on politics and is often critical of the government.
Tempo’s editor-in-chief Setri Yasra said the the act was “an attempt to intimidate and obstruct journalism.”
“We are taking further steps,” Yasra said adding that journalists are protected under Law No. 40 of 1999, which guarantees press freedom and journalist protection in Indonesia.
“Press freedom must not be terrorized, disrupted, or intimidated for any reason, as every media outlet operates under the regulations set by law,” he added.
Press Council chairperson Ninik Rahayu condemned the act as a criminal offense.
“The terror act… was likely carried out by parties feeling cornered and unwilling to take responsibility,” she said.
Rahayu said if there were any objections to Tempo’s reporting, the press regulations allowed the “right to reply.”
She asked for a “thorough investigation” to punish the guilty “so that such incidents do not happen again.”
The Alliance of Independent Journalists and the Press Legal Aid Institute in a joint statement called the act “an attack and threat to the public interest, especially the public’s right to quality news in Indonesia.”
A group of 44 academics, activists, journalists and Catholic priests from the Jakarta-based Driyarkara School of Philosophy also issued a statement saying, “We are with Tempo and media workers.”
Father Otto Gusti Madung, rector of the Ledalero Institute of Philosophy and Creative Technology said that “repressive actions have begun to emerge” under the rule of President Prabowo Subianto’s government.
Rosana became well-known in Indonesia after celebrating her birthday on the papal plane last year. Pope Francis wished her, placed his hand on her forehead and blessed her.
In a report in Tempo, Rosana said that she told the pope “This is the best gift from God,” and “Please pray for my country, please pray for democracy in my country.”
In August last year, her fellow host, Hussein Abri Dongoran, had his car damaged by unknown miscreants. The investigation has not made much progress.
There have been 17 cases of attacks on journalists this year, according to data gathered by the Alliance of Independent Journalists.
In 2024, it had recorded 74 cases, down from 101 cases in 2023, but higher than 64 cases in 2022 and 42 cases in 2021.
Rico Sempurna Pasaribu, a journalist in North Sumatra, along with his wife and their two children died after their house was burned down in July last year.
The trial is currently underway at the Karo District Court and the prosecutor on Mar 17 demanded the death penalty for the three accused. – UCA News
