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NGOs press for unrestricted access to Aceh and West Papua

Tapol Press Release - November 17, 2004

Widespread concern about continuing restrictions on international access to Aceh and West Papua and a recent ban on foreign journalists has led to an urgent call for greater openness and freedom of movement in the conflict-ridden provinces.

In a letter urging the British Government to press for unrestricted access, the British-based NGOs, TAPOL, CAFOD, Catholic Institute for International Relations and Oxford Papuan Rights Campaign say that the ban on foreign journalists "will be a serious obstacle to democratisation and peace building efforts in Aceh and West Papua", and that it "should be vigorously opposed".

They point out that it comes at a time when military operations are continuing in Aceh despite its change of status from military to civil emergency in May this year and when military operations have escalated in the Puncak Jaya region of West Papua.

The ban on journalists was imposed on 23 September, purportedly for "security reasons", by a committee of 15 government institutions, including the army, the intelligence agency BIN, the police, immigration, security ministry and the foreign affairs department.

In Aceh, the civil emergency status continues to place severe restrictions on entry to the province, on travel within the province and on work with local people and organisations. Local NGOs say the restrictions and threats of violence have made their task of providing humanitarian assistance and carrying out human rights monitoring difficult, if not impossible.

Despite hopes that the new Indonesian administration under Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would adopt new policies to resolve the Aceh conflict, the government has opted for more of the same with the decision to extend the civil emergency from 19 November. Over 2,000 people have been killed since the start of the military emergency in May 2003. The number of victims increases every day. The Puncak Jaya offensive in West Papua has resulted in at least three civilian deaths and the forced displacement of thousands.

The UK NGOs have asked Britain to urge the Indonesian Government to lift the ban on foreign journalists entering Aceh and West Papua, to ensure that they are able to carry out their work free from threats and intimidation, and to remove current restrictions on diplomats, international agencies and NGOs visiting and working in the two provinces.