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French journalists face jail for reporting from Indonesia
The Guardian (Australia) - October 17, 2014
Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat were arrested while filming a documentary about the separatist movement in West Papua for the Franco-German broadcaster, Arte TV.
They face possible sentences of up to five years in prison for "violation of immigration rights" plus #30,000 in fines.
According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the decision to prosecute the pair reflects the Indonesian government's long-standing policy of obstructing independent media coverage in West Papua, where a low-level conflict has persisted for decades.
Foreign journalists need special official permission to visit the island – which the government rarely approves and often delays processing, hindering reporting on breaking news.
Journalists who do get official permission are invariably shadowed by official minders who strictly control their movements and access to interviewees.
Phelim Kine, HRW's deputy Asia director, said: "The Indonesian government's chokehold on Papua media coverage has effectively turned foreign journalism in the province into a criminal activity.
"The government should drop the charges against Dandois and Bourrat as a first step toward ending the gag on foreign media reporting on Papua."
Incidentally, Dandois also holds a British passport because his mother is Scottish. (HRW/France 24 & AFP/TeleSur)
Source: http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2014/oct/17/press-freedom-indonesia.
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