IWO General Chairperson Dwi Christianto: Pig Head Terror to Tempo Editorial Office Threatens Press Freedom

IWO General Chairperson Dwi Christianto: Pig Head Terror to Tempo Editorial Office Threatens Press Freedom

JAKARTA-ASWINNEWS.COM- The Online Journalists Association (IWO) strongly condemns the pig head terror that has been sent to Tempo’s editorial office. This action is seen as a serious threat to press freedom and an attempt to silence critical media voices.

“IWO condemns this act of terror as a form of intimidation that is unacceptable in a democratic country. We consider this terror to be an attempt to suppress and silence critical media, which are important pillars of democracy,” said IWO General Chairperson Dwi Christianto, in a written statement, Thursday, March 20, 2025.

“Our hearts and minds are with Tempo. IWO expresses our solidarity with fellow journalists who work in the Tempo editorial office and all journalists who continue to fight for the truth,” he added.

Furthermore, IWO urges a thorough investigation into this case, so that in the future there will be no intimidation against the sustainability of the press in the country.

“IWO urges law enforcement officers to immediately conduct a thorough investigation into this case and arrest the perpetrators and uncover the motives behind the terror. Because we emphasize the importance of protecting journalists in carrying out their duties, and ask the government to guarantee the safety of fellow journalists,” concluded Dwi.

“With this, IWO calls on all elements of society and stakeholders to unite against all forms of threats to press freedom in Indonesia,” said Dwi Christianto, who is also a lecturer in Communication Science at Budi Luhur University, Jakarta.

As is known, this terror adds to the long list of cases of intimidation that have occurred against the media in Indonesia. The Tempo office received a shipment of pig heads on March 19, 2025. The pig’s head was wrapped in a cardboard box lined with styrofoam.

The box containing the pig’s head was addressed to “Cica”. At Tempo, Cica is the nickname for Francisca Christy Rosana, a journalist on the political desk and host of the Bocor Alus Politik podcast.

The package was received by Tempo’s security unit on March 19, 2025 at 16:15 WIB. Cica just received the package at 15:00 on Thursday, March 20, 2025. Cica had just returned from reporting with Hussein Abri Yusuf Muda Dongoran.

When she received information about the package sent to her, she brought the cardboard box to the office. Hussein was the one who opened the box. He smelled a foul odor when he just opened the top of the cardboard box.

When the styrofoam was opened, Hussein saw that the contents were a pig’s head. He, Cica and several journalists carried the cardboard box out of the building. After the cardboard box was completely opened, a pig’s head was visible with its ears cut off.

Tempo Editor-in-Chief Setri Yasra stated that the delivery of the package containing the pig’s head was a form of terror against press freedom. “We are preparing the next steps in response to this incident,” said Setri.***

*Release
*Wari

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