Protestors staged a demonstration outside Indonesia's embassy in New Zealand today, calling for media freedom in West Papua.
This follow's last week's conviction of two French journalists for misusing their tourist visas to work in Indonesia's Papua province.
The pair, who were arrested and detained in August, were sentenced in Jayapura to two and half months in prison.
The protestors in Wellington questioned how Indonesia can call itself a democracy when local and foreign journalists are prevented from doing their jobs in West Papua.
They also called for Indonesia to free the dozens of known political prisoners languishing in Papua jails.
One of the protestors, Tekura Moekaa, read a poem she wrote, searching for understanding of Indonesia's record in West Papua.
"When Japan invaded Indonesia, only twenty years before Indonesia occupied West Papua, Indonesia and its people experienced similar if not the same situations the people of West Papua are going through. However later Indonesia were signed and allowed their independence. Why would you do unto others as have been done unto you?"
http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/258091/nz-protest-calls-for-media-freedom-in-west-papua
This follow's last week's conviction of two French journalists for misusing their tourist visas to work in Indonesia's Papua province.
The pair, who were arrested and detained in August, were sentenced in Jayapura to two and half months in prison.
The protestors in Wellington questioned how Indonesia can call itself a democracy when local and foreign journalists are prevented from doing their jobs in West Papua.
They also called for Indonesia to free the dozens of known political prisoners languishing in Papua jails.
Protestors
calling for media freedom in West Papua. From left: Tekura Moekaa,
Teresia Teaiwa, and New Zealand MPs Catherine Delahunty and Steffan
Browning
Photo: RNZI
"When Japan invaded Indonesia, only twenty years before Indonesia occupied West Papua, Indonesia and its people experienced similar if not the same situations the people of West Papua are going through. However later Indonesia were signed and allowed their independence. Why would you do unto others as have been done unto you?"
http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/258091/nz-protest-calls-for-media-freedom-in-west-papua