The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Friday called for an independent investigation into the house fire that killed journalist Sempurna Pasaribu and three members of his family last month.
The organization emphasized the need for accountability for the incident. CPJ’s Senior Southeast Asia Representative Shawn Crispin stated:
Indonesian authorities must leave no stone unturned in investigating the suspicious death of Tribrata TV journalist Sempurna Pasaribu. If senior military officials were involved in his death in retaliation for his investigative reporting, they must be tried and fully prosecuted.
The fire, which occurred at 3 AM in the Kabanjahe District, claimed the lives of Pasaribu, his wife Efprida boru Ginting, their son Sudiinveseti and their grandson Louin Arlando Situngkir. Eva Meliani, the eldest daughter of the deceased, confirmed the tragic loss of her family members on June 29.
Sempurna Pasaribu was a journalist at Tribrata TV who had recently reported on alleged high-level military involvement in an illegal gambling operation in the area. He exposed these activities and named specific individuals involved, including making personal posts about the issue on his Facebook page. These reports led to Pasaribu receiving threats and pressure from the implicated parties to retract his stories.
His colleagues revealed that he had been feeling anxious and had mostly avoided returning home, fearing for his and his family’s safety. A witness also recounted seeing five men near Pasaribu’s house on the day of the fire at around 2:30 AM, half an hour before the blaze broke out.
Eva, Pasaribu’s daughter and the head of the Tribrata TV Bureau, mentioned feeling threatened during her questioning at the Karo Police Station. She claimed that investigators had coerced her into confirming information she had never provided.
Adjunct Senior Commissioner Oloan Siahaan, the acting head of Tanah Karo Police, reported that the police had gathered statements from 11 witnesses, including family members and first responders. Crime scene examinations and forensic analysis are ongoing as part of the investigation. The head of the Indonesian National Armed Forces information center has stated that military involvement in the incident can not be confirmed until further findings are available.
