Dylan Amirio, Jakarta – Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said the Jokowi government never restricted foreign visitors or journalists from visiting Papua, with 22 foreign applications granted in 2014 alone.
She said that the government had more or less never refused foreign entry into the region and that refusals that were made were usually done because of incomplete administrative procedures or due to unconducive security situations.
"We practically never refused entry unless it was because of incomplete procedures or due to the uncertain security conditions at one time," Retno told reporters at the House of Representatives complex on Monday.
She and several other Foreign Ministry officials held a closed meeting on Monday with House of Representatives' Commission I overseeing defense and foreign affairs, Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel and the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) leadership. They discussed matters related to Papua.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo declared that the government would revoke the strict restrictions that prevented journalists from covering Papua earlier in May. (hhr)