4 May 2017

Action urged on threats against journalists in West Papua

2:33 pm on 4 May 2017

A human rights advocate says more needs to be done to stop threats and violence against journalists in Indonesia's West Papua region.

UNESCO week marked World Press Freedom day with a conference in Jakarta this week.

The spokesperson of the New Zealand based West Papua Action Group, Maire Leadbetter, said in one recent case several journalists received death threats and had their cameras seized while covering a trial over election violations.

Maire Leadbeater presents her petition asking urging the government to address the ongoing human rights situation in West Papua.

The spokesperson of the New Zealand based West Papua Action Group, Maire Leadbetter Photo: RNZ / Daniela Maoate - Cox

She also pointed to the recent assault on journalist Yance Wenda and said ongoing abuses of Papua media freedom can't be ignored.

"There seems to be grave abuses of press freedom," Ms Leadbetter said.

"I read just a couple of days ago about a rather serious physical assault on a young journalist in Jubi.

"I've seen pictures of him on the internet as he was actually beaten by a rattan cane and sustained injuries to his body, his mouth and to his eyes, even though he was carrying a perfectly legitimate letter from his employer to say that he was a proper journalist."

Ms Leadbetter said there are still very stringent controls on international journalists wanting to travel to Papua.