Journalists Assaulted While Covering Tin Mining Dispute in Indonesia
Two journalists were attacked and detained while reporting on a tin mining dispute in Bangka Belitung Islands, Indonesia, leading to the arrest of three suspects.
On March 7, 2026, journalists Frendy Primadana and Dedy Wahyudi were assaulted and detained while covering a dispute over tin mining regulations in Air Anyir Village, Merawang District, Bangka Regency, Indonesia. The incident occurred at the warehouse of PT Putra Prima Mineral Mandiri (PT PPMM), where tensions had escalated between residents and military officers inspecting supplier trucks for alleged illegal tin sand mining.
Primadana, a contributor to TV One, and Wahyudi, of Beritafakta.com, were denied entry to the factory premises despite presenting press credentials. When Wahyudi began filming, he was allegedly punched multiple times in the face by a truck driver. Both journalists were then physically assaulted by security guards and detained for an hour, during which they received death threats and were coerced into recording an apology video. Their phones were confiscated, and all recordings were deleted.
The journalists were rescued by police and taken to Air Anyir General Hospital for treatment. Primadana was later referred to intensive care due to worsening facial injuries. Bangka Belitung Regional Police confirmed the arrest of three suspects: the truck driver, a PT PPMM security officer, and an employee. If convicted, they could face up to seven years in prison.
The Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI) Indonesia condemned the attack, stating that it constitutes a serious violation of press freedom as guaranteed under Indonesia’s Press Law (Law No. 40/1999). The law affirms that journalists have the right to seek, obtain, and disseminate information without intimidation or violence. AJI emphasized that acts of physical assault, threats, and coercion are not only criminal offenses under general law but also directly undermine the legal protections afforded to the press.