UCA News
Contribute

French journalists arrested in Indonesia's Papua province

Police said duo failed to obtain permit to report on separatists
French journalists arrested in Indonesia's Papua province
Published: August 08, 2014 09:04 AM GMT
Updated: August 07, 2014 10:50 PM GMT

Two French journalists were arrested on Wednesday by Indonesian police for allegedly reporting on the separatist movement in restive Papua province. 

Thomas Charles Dandois, 40, and Valentine Bourrat, 29, were arrested at a hotel in Wamena district with three suspected members of the Free Papua Movement. The duo were working for the Franco-German television channel Arte, a spokesman for the French embassy in Jakarta said.

Papua police spokesman Sulistyo Pudjo Hartono told ucanews.com on Friday that the journalists were arrested for working without official permits.

"According to their visas, they are tourists. But they then carried out reporting duties. Every foreign journalist entering Papua must obtain a permit," he said.

Indonesia rarely allows foreign journalists to carry out reporting duties in Papua. The movement of journalists and nongovernmental organization workers are heavily restricted.

Hartono said police were investigating whether the Papuans who accompanied the French journalists were members of armed separatist groups. The Free Papua Movement has waged a low level insurgency for several decades, seeking independence from Indonesian rule in the resource-rich region.

Brigadier General Paulus Waterpauw, Papua Police deputy chief, told tabloidjubi.com that police were investigating whether the journalists had provided "logistics aid" to armed civil groups.

Police said the alleged separatists at the hotel were from the highlands of Lanny Jaya district, where five Free Papua Movement members were killed in a shootout with the military last week.

Eko Maryadi, head of the Alliance of Independent Journalists, said foreign journalists have had difficulty obtaining permission to work in Papua, causing "several foreign journalists to secretly enter Papua."

A French embassy spokesman said: "We are in constant contact with them. We are in touch with the Indonesian ministry of foreign affairs and the police, both in Jakarta and in Papua, to resolve this issue."

Help UCA News to be independent
Dear reader,
Lent is the season during which catechumens make their final preparations to be welcomed into the Church.
Each year during Lent, UCA News presents the stories of people who will join the Church in proclaiming that Jesus Christ is their Lord. The stories of how women and men who will be baptized came to believe in Christ are inspirations for all of us as we prepare to celebrate the Church's chief feast.
Help us with your donations to bring such stories of faith that make a difference in the Church and society.
A small contribution of US$5 will support us continue our mission…
William J. Grimm
Publisher
UCA News
Asian Bishops
Latest News
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia