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Papua students in Yogyakarta call for release of French journalists

KRjogja.com - October 13, 2014

Protest by Papuan students in Surabaya demands release of French journalists – Surabaya News. October 13, 2014
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Protests against 1969 annexation of West Papua held in three Java cities – Selangkah Magazine. July 15, 2014
Papua activists say don't elect human rights violator as president – Liputan6.com. June 21, 2014
West Papuan pro-independence groups call for presidential election boycott – Selangkah Magazine. June 10, 2014

Agus Sigit, Yogya – The Papua Student Alliance (AMP) held an action at the zero kilometre point in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on the afternoon of Monday October 13. During the action, scores of students called for the release of the two French journalists being detained in West Papua.

During the action, the students demanded the release of Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat, who have been detained on charges of misusing their work visa. The two journalists have been accused of violating their stay permits and face five years in jail if convicted.

The students also called on the Indonesian government to be willing to provide freedom to journalists who wish to report on the Papua region.

One of the demonstrators, Sonny, said that through the action they hoped that the West Papua immigration office would release the two journalists immediately. "We are calling on the parties concerned to immediately release the two journalists because both are innocent of carrying out journalist activities in Papua", said Sonny.

The action in front of the central Yogyakarta post office proceeded peacefully. After conveying their demands, the students continued the action with a long-march towards the Papua dormitory under the escort of police.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Source: http://krjogja.com/read/233773/aliansi-mahasiswa-papua-desak-wartawan-asing-dibebaskan.kr.

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