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French Journalists Detained in Papua Appear in Court

French Journalists Detained in Papua Appear in Court

By Banjir Ambarita on 04:24 pm Oct 20, 2014
Category Featured, News
Tags: OPM Free Papua Organization, West Papua

French journalists Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat, who were arrested in August for reporting in Papua without a journalist's visa, appeared in court for the first time on Monday. (Photo Yuliana Lantipo)

Jayapura. The fate of two French journalists detained for reporting on an outlawed independence movement in Papua without the correct visa will be decided this week.

Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat, who were arrested in Wamena on Aug. 6, made their first appearance at Jayapura District Court on Monday.

Prosecutors allege the two journalists violated the 2011 Law on Immigration and the Penal Code of Indonesia, and the pair could face up to five years in prison.

Presiding judge Martinus Bala said on Monday that the court would hear from five witnesses tomorrow, then experts presented by lawyers from both sides over the proceeding days.

“By the end of this week, the demand and ruling would have been read,” he said.

Dandois and Bourrat, who were filming a documentary on the West Papuan independence movement for Franco-German TV channel Arte, were arrested with three alleged members of the Free Papua Organization (OPM), which has waged a decades-long insurgency against Indonesian rule in the region.

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Authorities are seeking to have the journalists, who are considered a threat to security, sentenced for the maximum five years in prison for breaching their tourist visa, something the pair have admitted.

Prosecutors say the pair carried out journalistic activities in Doyo, Jayapura, by interviewing West Papuan leader Forkorus Yaboisembut and covering activities of the OPM. The pair were found with recorders, video, a laptop and mobile phones.

Indigenous leader Areki Wanimbo — who the pair met in Jayawijaya district — allegedly served as a contact between the journalists and the independence movement in Lany Jaya district.

“The two defendants actually realized and knew that to perform journalistic works in Indonesia, they could not just use a tourist visa,” Prosecutor Sukanda said.

Sukanda said the journalists were aware they needed to apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a permit which would be issued by a special clearing house.

“During investigation, both admitted carrying out journalistic activity to understand more about the Papuan social condition, traditions, culture and history; as well as to find out the reason why the armed group stands against the government.

Sukanda said the coverage was to be broadcast as a documentary on French television.

The lawyer for the journalists, Aristo M.A. Pangaribuan, said that the two-page indictment was vague and failed to clearly explain what prosecutors meant by journalistic works.

“In the criminal code article 143 requires an indictment to be clear and complete,” Aristo said.

“Because the indictment is vague, the court process should be terminated, and both should be returned to their country.”

The pair have been detained at Jayapura’s immigration detention center for ten weeks.

Foreign journalists who want to access Papua face considerable hurdles and have to obtain a journalist’s visa and permission letter.

The arrest of the French journalists has drawn criticism from media freedom groups, including the French-based Reporters Without Borders. Indonesia’s national press council has said it would be better to deport the journalists.

ENDS

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