The Indonesian government should dismiss charges against two French journalists in the eastern regions of Papua and end restrictions on foreign media in the region, said Human Rights Watch on Thursday.
The journalists, Valentine Bourrat and Thomas Dandois, who were arrested whilst producing a documentary, are set to face trial on 20 October on charges of “abusive use of entry visas.”
“The Indonesian government’s choke hold on Papua media coverage has effectively turned foreign journalism in the province into a criminal activity,” said the Human Rights Watch Asia director.
“The government should drop charges against Dandois and Bourrat as a first step toward ending the gag on foreign media reporting on Papua,” said Phelim Kine.
The journalists were arrested on August 6 on grounds of working illegally without media accreditation.
French journalists arrested in Papua (16 August 2014)
The journalists, Valentine Bourrat and Thomas Dandois, who were arrested whilst producing a documentary, are set to face trial on 20 October on charges of “abusive use of entry visas.”
“The Indonesian government’s choke hold on Papua media coverage has effectively turned foreign journalism in the province into a criminal activity,” said the Human Rights Watch Asia director.
“The government should drop charges against Dandois and Bourrat as a first step toward ending the gag on foreign media reporting on Papua,” said Phelim Kine.
The journalists were arrested on August 6 on grounds of working illegally without media accreditation.
French journalists arrested in Papua (16 August 2014)