Christian Motte & Fidelis E. Satriastanti – Indonesian authorities in Papua Province on Tuesday detained four Dutch journalists for reporting on a pro-independence demonstration in the provincial capital Jayapura, a journalist association said.
In a news release, the Independent Alliance of Journalists, or AJI, said that the four were arrested by immigration officials in Jayapura.
Agus Rianto, spokesman for the Jayapura Police, refused to comment on the incident, but the DPA quoted the Dutch international radio Wereldomroep as confirming that the incident involved three of its freelancers and a correspondent for the leading Dutch daily newspaper NRC Handelsblad.
The journalists had been covering the return of one of the founders of the rebel Free Papua Movement, or OPM, Nicolaas Jouwe, after more than 40 years in exile. His return has sparked renewed tensions in the troubled province, which is normally closed to reporters.
AJI demanded that the journalists be freed, with its chairman, Nezar Patria, calling the arrests "a form of violation of the work of journalists," saying "the journalists' right to information should be respected."
It is understood that the journalists had been covering a demonstration without the required permit on Monday and were detained for questioning at Sentani Airport before they were due to fly out of the province.
AFP reported that local immigration official Raden Hendiartono said authorities had not yet decided whether to charge or deport the two male and two female journalists.
Jouwe, the last surviving OPM founder, arrived in Indonesia from exile in the Netherlands last week at the invitation of Jakarta for talks aimed at reaching a peaceful solution for Papua, but failed to renounce calls for independence, identifying Indonesia as Papua's "neighbor."
Meanwhile, hundreds of indigenous Papuans in Jayapura held a rally calling for a referendum for independence. Carrying banners reading "election no, referendum yes," "stop the genocide of Melanesians," the protestors made their way to the Papua Legislative Council.
The rally ended peacefully after protestor representatives met with legislative leaders.