Indonesian Journalists Assaulted While Reporting on Mineral Processing Plant

Two Indonesian journalists were assaulted while reporting on tensions surrounding a mineral processing facility in Bangka Belitung province, prompting press freedom groups to call for accountability and stronger protections for reporters covering environmental and industrial issues.

The attack occurred on March 7 at the Putraprima Mineral Mandiri processing plant, a company involved in processing zircon, a byproduct of tin mining in the Bangka and Belitung islands. Journalists Frendy Primadana, a contributor to broadcaster TVOne, and Dedy Wahyudi, a reporter for the online outlet Babel Faktual, had traveled to the site to cover a dispute involving small-scale zircon suppliers and a military task force overseeing illegal mining operations in the region.

According to accounts from the journalists, the incident began when they attempted to access the facility to report on the situation. At the entrance, a truck driver allegedly seized Wahyudi’s phone and struck him in the face. Primadana said he was then attacked by a security guard and the driver, who punched and kicked him before several other individuals joined the assault.

The violence escalated as up to 20 people at the facility reportedly took part in the attack. Primadana said he was also threatened with death during the confrontation. Workers at the plant later forced him to record a video apology related to his reporting on the facility before the journalists were able to leave the site.

Local police intervened after the incident and confirmed the arrest of three suspects, including a security guard employed at the plant, a company employee, and a truck driver working with one of the suppliers. Authorities stated that the suspects could face prison sentences of up to seven years if convicted under Indonesian law.

Both journalists were treated at a nearby hospital for injuries, including bruising to their faces and bodies, before being discharged. The company involved in the incident did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the allegations.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has condemned the assault and urged Indonesian authorities to ensure those responsible are fully prosecuted. Press freedom advocates emphasized that journalists play an essential role in reporting on environmental and industrial issues, particularly in regions where mining activity can generate conflicts involving communities, businesses, and government authorities.

Rights groups say the attack highlights the risks journalists face when investigating sensitive economic sectors such as mining and natural resource extraction. They argue that protecting reporters from violence is essential to ensuring transparency and public accountability in industries that can have significant environmental and social impacts.

Reference –

https://www.miningmagazine.com/safety/news-articles/4528527/journalists-attacked-indonesian-processing-plant

Indonesian journalists attacked over reporting at mineral processing plant