A West Papua action group is urging New Zealand and other Pacific nations to lobby Indonesian authorities for the immediate release of two French journalists.
Papuan students take part on a rally in Surabaya, East Java province, in December 2013, demanding the freedom of West Papua province. Photo: AFP / JUNI KRISWANTO
Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat were reporting in the Indonesian-controlled Papua region for a French-German television station when they were arrested.
They are being held for violating immigration regulations but the police say they are suspected of promoting instability.
A spokesperson for West Papua Action Auckland group, Maire (mai-ree) Leadbeater (led-better), says New Zealand's parliament only recently passed a resolution supporting media freedom in West Papua.
"This is a perfect opportunity really for the Government to put that resolution into action and to make a strong plea to the Indonesian authorities to release those two journalists."
A spokesperson for West Papua Action Auckland, Maire Leadbeater.
Reporters without Borders has also called for the release of the two journalists.
