Journalist Killed in Indonesia’s Papua Province

April 10, 2012
Journalist Killed in Indonesia’s Papua Province

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its Indonesian affiliate the Alliance Of Independent Journalist (AJI) in urging a thorough investigation into the death of a journalist in Indonesia’s eastern Papua Province on Sunday April 8.

Leiron Kogoya, 35, a journalist for Papua Pos Nabire and Pasifik Pos Dail, was a passenger in a small Twin Otter plane attacked by unidentified shooters while touching down at Mulia Airport, in Papua's Puncak Jaya district. Leiron was visiting Mulia to cover the local elections in the provincial capital, Jayapura.

Information gathered by AJI suggests that although Leiron was not a specific target, he received a shot in the right neck during the initial attack and died shortly afterwards.

After being hit, the Trigana Air flight, and its eight passengers and crew, crashed into an airport building. Provincial police spokesman Johannes Nugroho reported that in addition to Leiron’s death, four were wounded in the plane incident, including the two pilots, a female passenger and a four-year-old boy.

“The IFJ joins its affiliate AJI in condemning these attacks, and calls for an active investigation by Indonesian Police to identify and punish those responsible”, IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

“This latest incident highlights the dangers faced by journalists in Indonesia when carrying out their duties.

The IFJ urges Indonesia Police to do all they can to ensure the safety and security of civilians, including journalists, and reminds journalists to exercise due care when reporting from dangerous or unstable locations”

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific

Find the IFJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IFJAsiaPacific

ENDS

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