Journalists Evict Indramayu Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) During Demolition of Indramayu Press Building
INDRAMAYU-JAYA NEWS.COM – The evacuation of the Graha Pers Indramayu (GPI) building failed on Friday, July 18, 2025. This occurred because the execution team from the Indramayu Regency Government, consisting of the Regional Finance and Assets Agency (BKAD) and the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), failed to produce valid land and building ownership documents.
As a result, hundreds of journalists present at the demolition simultaneously evicted the Satpol PP and BKAD representatives. Unwilling to take any chances, the Indramayu Regency Government team left the GPI building. Interestingly, they were escorted home by hundreds of journalists to their official vehicles.
The demolition of the building was preceded by a briefing from the BKAD. At that time, the Regional Civil Service Agency (BKAD), represented by Assets Division staff member Rio Sumantri, stated that the GPI building should be vacated immediately, as ordered by the Regional Secretary, Aep Surahman.
Unfortunately, when asked for proof of legal ownership, Rio Sumantri was unable to produce any. This provoked a strong reaction from hundreds of journalists. They shouted at the BKAD to discontinue their argument, as they lacked legal ownership documents.
The situation escalated further when the Head of the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), Teguh Budiarso, explained their arrival. Once again, the journalists refused to accept the reason given. Eventually, they crowded around to prevent the execution team from dispersing.
This unprecedented event in the history of journalism in Indramayu Regency was also witnessed by dozens of other journalists from several regencies in West Java. Also present were journalists from the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) from Cirebon, Majalengka, Karawang, Subang, and Sukabumi regencies.
Previously, the forced eviction order for the Graha Pers Indramayu (GPI) building by the Regent of Indramayu, West Java, Lucky Hakim, drew strong reactions from journalists. They considered Lucky Hakim’s attitude arrogant.
The order to vacate the GPI building was contained in two letters signed by the Indramayu Regional Secretary, Aep Surahman. The final letter contained a stern warning and a threat of forced eviction by deploying the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP). The threatened forced eviction would take place on Friday, July 18, 2025.
This threat immediately infuriated all journalists in Indramayu Regency. They were prepared to fight if the local government actually followed through with the plan.
Asmawi, Chairman of the Indramayu Journalists’ Forum (FKJI), called the forced eviction order baseless. He stated that the GPI building is not a sole asset of the Indramayu Regency Government but rather belongs to Sindang Village/Sub-district, Indramayu Regency.
Asmawi further stated that Lucky Hakim was seen as disrespecting the role of journalists in the development of Indramayu Regency.
“The GPI building was deliberately built and improved by previous regents. The goal was to create synergy and constructive collaboration to jointly advance Indramayu. Now, this good order has been destroyed by the current regent (Lucky Hakim) for matters that do not address the public interest,” Asmawi concluded.
Echoing Asmawi, the Head of the Indramayu Regency PWI, Dedy Musashi, stated that the forced eviction of the GPI building would set a bad precedent. Lucky Hakim was considered an attempt to silence the press. He also said that Lucky Hakim disrespected the history of the GPI building.
Dedy explained that the GPI building was previously known as the Journalists’ Hall. It was constructed in 1985. At that time, the Indramayu Regency Government recognized journalists for their contribution to development, following their receipt of the Parasamya Purna Karya Nugraha award.
“The Journalists’ Hall was inaugurated by the then Governor of West Java, Yogie S. Memet. It was then perfected by successive Regents of Indramayu, up until the reign of Regent Nina Agustina. Now, with Lucky Hakim as Regent, he is arbitrarily trying to eradicate the history of journalism,” he stressed.***
Teddy
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