By: Andre Zulfikar *)
Papua, CIDISS – Today many allegations emerged that foreign journalists and foreign NGOs are prohibited to Papua. Allegations were also submitted by the separatists in Papua. Through the news released by CNN, Indonesia has closed several international NGO’s office and leave Papua until the end of 2015. It was addressed by West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda that the closure of NGO in Papua that human rights violations in Papua is not revealed.
According to Human Rights Watch, International NGO activists fate is not much different with foreign journalists working in Papua. Their presence gets strict supervision for fear smuggle interests that could potentially destabilizing national’s security. “Discourse closure is long, even on several international NGOs in Papua,” said Human Rights Watch activist Andreas Harsono told CNN Indonesia. A number of international NGOs which had already shut down its operations in Papua, among others, the Catholic Organisation for Relief and Development Aid (CORDAID) in 2010 and the Peace Brigades International (PBI) in 2011.
Foreign limitation rule in Papua is a natural thing. During this time, quite a lot of foreign NGOs and foreign journalists who came to Papua precisely in order to provoke a separatist action. Not to criticize and to invite the people of Papua to participate and help build the country as a polite expression.
Press Freedom in Papua have also been guaranteed by President Jokowi.
Earlier, the government imposed a special permit covering or other journalistic activities in Papua. This regulation has been going on since long. Similar conditions also been applied to the province of East Timor which has now become a stand alone state called East Timor. Police confirmed it had to adhere to the orders of President Jokowi to respect press freedom in Papua. Indeed, to look out behind this freedom is the presence of foreign attempts to separate Papua from the Republic of Indonesia. [AZ]
*) Junior researcher in CIDISS