Free Press Unlimited and partners urge Indonesian president to reopen investigation into journalist's murder
Free Press Unlimited (FPU), together with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and five other civil society organisations, has called on Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to order a new investigation into the murder of journalist Rico Sempurna Pasaribu and his family.
The joint letter follows the publication of the recent CPJ–FPU investigation, Impunity in Indonesia: The leads left unfollowed in journalist Rico Sempurna Pasaribu's murder, which uncovered serious flaws in the official investigation and presented substantial evidence that active-duty soldier Corporal Herman Bukit should be thoroughly investigated for his alleged role in the killings.
Pasaribu, a journalist with Tribrata TV, was killed alongside his wife, son and grandson in an arson attack on their home in North Sumatra on 27 June 2024. Before the attack, he had received threats after reporting on an alleged illegal gambling operation linked to Bukit.
In the letter, the organisations call on the Indonesian authorities to reopen the investigation, ensure that any prosecution takes place before a civilian court, and conduct a transparent and impartial investigation that examines all available evidence. They argue that the previous investigation failed to properly investigate key leads and overlooked evidence pointing to Bukit's possible involvement.
The letter was also sent to the chief of the Indonesian National Police, the commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, and Commission 1 of the Indonesian House of Representatives.
Read the full letter below
