AJI regrets 'Today Tonight' deportation

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 09/18/2006 7:53 AM

JAKARTA: The Alliance of Independence Journalists (AJI) has criticized the deportation of an Australian TV news crew from Papua last week because they had no permits from the Foreign Ministry.

AJI chairman Heru Hendratmoko said in a statement that every nation had the right to defend their interests but barring journalists from doing their jobs was against the freedom of the press.

The five-member crew from the Today Tonight program, headed by Australian media personality Naomi Robson, were deported late last week after posing as tourists.

The tabloid-style, nightly current affairs show normally features dodgy builders, questionable diets and fights between neighbors.

The team had told the local authorities they planned to film cannibalism in Papua.

AJI called on the government to ease the rules on foreign journalists in Indonesia. -- JP

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