Al-Jazeera cancels Papua documentary screening

Ary Hermawan ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 07/02/2009 11:12 PM  |  World

In what seems to be a last minute decision, television news network Al-Jazeera English decided not to premiere on Thursday a highly-sensitive documentary highlighting the plight of Papuans. It also removed the film’s synopsis from the list of feature films it will broadcast, which is published on its website.

It remains unclear, however, whether the Qatar-based TV-channel had postponed or completely called off the screening of the controversial documentary that will likely disturb the government in Jakarta. The Jakarta Post tried to reach Al-Jazeera officials for confirmation Thursday but to no avail.

The film’s screening is extremely sensitive as Indonesia will hold its second presidential election on July 8.

Titled Pride of Warriors, the documentary was directed by Australian filmmaker Jono van Hest, who claimed to have smuggled six video cameras into the troubled West Papua province. He said the filmmaking was inspired by the arrival of 43 Papuans seeking refugee status from the Australian government in 2006.

Van Hest has not replied to emails from the Post for comments.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah said the government had not made any contact with Al-Jazeera to protest the TV channel’s decision to air the documentary and to request it cancel the screening.

“I do not know if they have called it off or postponed it. I waited for the film but it was not aired,” he said, adding the government had been disturbed by the documentary.

“It is a sensational film that is very one-sided. If it is true that the filmmaker had smuggled the cameras then he has violated Indonesian law and also the principles of journalism.”
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Santo Darmosumarto (not verified), Jakarta — Tue, 08/04/2009 - 11:36am

To Mr. Julian: I thank you for your kind comment regarding my articulate argument. Suffice to say that we differ in opinions. And I think we should leave our differences at that. I think we share a view, and that is, for Papuans to live prosperous lives. You may not think I feel as such, but believe me, I do. I have lived abroad for more than half of my age, mostly in western, democratic countries. I can list western dirt, skeletons-in-closets, a mile long. But I do realize, that many things that I've learned there, the good things, drive me to want to make Indonesia become a better place. Indeed, people in general, tend to blame other people for the problems they have. I may have fallen into that trap too. The fact is that much needs to be done in this country to make it a better place to live in. And I think Indonesians, like me, can start by stopping this constant blaming of 'foreign forces' and start do something useful instead. I just sometimes feel sick to my stomach that as we try to make Indonesia better, so many people are always pointing fingers at us and saying "you're not doing enough", "you, racist", "you, terrorist harboring infidel", "you, human rights abuser", "you, money grabbing inhuman people", "you insensitive kind:, "you, this -- you, that". There's a group of people living just in the village behind my house in southern Jakarta. They are not happy with their economic condition. They feel marginalized. They are Betawis (original Jakarta people). They are often stereotyped as being lazy by the rest of Indonesia. They are angry at the outsiders who've come and made profit from their ancestral land, especially the Javanese. They are angry at the government. And they are militant. Should they ask for their own country as well? You see, Mr. Julian, I wish that Indonesia's problem could be solved by dividing Indonesia into smaller countries. Let the Papuans have their own country; let the Acehnese; let the Betawis; let the Ambonese; let the Chinese. But I fear that this would create more problems than cure them. The truth is that a united Indonesia, stable, just, democratic, and economically progressive is the key to the happiness of its people, Acehnese, Papuans, and Betawis included. I want a united Indonesia the way Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom; I want a stable Indonesia the way Hawaii is stable under American rule; I want a just Indonesia the way the Aborigines have received the Australian Government's just "sorry"; I want a democratic Indonesia the way Canada retains Quebec democratically; I want an economically progressive Indonesia the way Catalunya has prospered economically under Spain. We remain miles away from this goal. We are striving for it. And we can see it. Will you join us in our effort, or will you prefer to trip our steps over and over.

Julian (not verified) — Fri, 07/10/2009 - 11:25am

Just Look at this picture from the July 10 Jakarta Post. Non indigenous to Papua security forces beating down indigenous locals. The hypocrisy and occupation in Papua both need to stop!

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/07/07/protesters-barricade-mimik...

Friend H. (not verified) — Wed, 07/08/2009 - 5:50pm

Just the quote “It is a sensational film that is very one-sided. If it is true that the filmmaker had smuggled the cameras then he has violated Indonesian law and also the principles of journalism.” shows a lack of democratic understanding and respect to independent journalism.
Is there any comment to add? I don't think so...

Nigel (not verified) — Wed, 07/08/2009 - 3:24pm

From outsider points of view; Situation for Jakarta administration towards the natives in Papua, Maluku, Sulawesi seems the same like the Beijing administration act on the Tibetian & XinJian Uygur natives.
Furthermore, Jakarta administration can get hold most of the large islands in this Malay Archipelago should credited to the success of the Dutch colonial administration, it is not good to blame the past colonial influence, else, Nusantara should break into many countries same like Europe, the minority native should have their own ways of life, not being "controlled" or influence by the high population provinces.
Note: A country that ban truth gives permmission lies, and this lies will cause harm eventually.

Kortsleting (not verified) — Wed, 07/08/2009 - 2:13pm

Why are you people so happy to slice and dice this poor big country? Do you want to have another East Timor? 1963 referendum is just that, "disputed". I doubt either side can win their argument. If government screw up is a reason to break away, then we would have too many little countries here. Even East Timor story could be different if people waited a little bit until their welfare is improved. Indonesia needs time to fix its problems and slicing it up isn't going to work for anyone.

Gofur (not verified) — Wed, 07/08/2009 - 10:39am

Another stupid action from one of Australian…yes another stupid action.

What are you trying to do with Papua Province in Indonesia?

You know what? you even cannot dissolve your internal problem with Aborigin which you have been tortured for years till now. And suddenly you feel like a Santa by trying to "help" Papuan through this stupid media documentary?

fuhhhh....look what you have been doing with people in Papua New Guine and Solomon Islands? For me, you just simply prolong your colonialzation by covering it with your development project...fuhhhh what a shame! you are not different with British; Dutch; France and alike who colonialized us since 17th to 20th centuries....what a really shame of you!!!

Borsa — Thu, 07/09/2009 - 10:14am

Hi Gofur, it would be nice that Indonesian journalists did the same kind of job as the Australian journalist you deem stupid. But Indonesian journalists are not more allowed than foreign journalists, to report independently from West Papua.

So, the only way for a journalist to work properly in West Papua is to smuggle cameras. Jono van Hest had the courage to do it. Foreign journalists in West Papua not only can be arrested, deported and banned from entering Indonesia again, they also risk their life. Let us remember the tragic deaths of the Balibo five and of Dutch journalist Sander Thoenes, all murdered by TNI squads. Nobody can blame Indonesian journalists, though, because they risk perhaps even more than foreigners. Indonesian journalists have been arrested and tortured at the hands of security forces. A number have been shot by TNI in Aceh, Timor Leste and elsewhere, while on assignment.

It is not exact to say that British and French colonized Indonesia. The islands that today make up Indonesia have been colonized some by Spanish, others by Portuguese and Dutch. At the time of its independence from Dutch colonization, Indonesia did not include West Papua and the Indonesian authorities had no interest in it. West Papua was invaded by TNI in 1963 when the Dutch, under pressure from the U.S.A., left the country. The Indonesian authorities claim West Papua is one of the provinces of Indonesia. Actually, West Papua is a colony of Indonesia, under the yoke of murderous Indonesian security forces. That’s what independent journalists and other observers have seen and reported. Their actions are not stupid, they are first-hand testimonies.

Blix (not verified) — Tue, 07/07/2009 - 3:19pm

Perhaps the film wasn't worth showing and Al-Jaz realised that in the nick of time.

Anyway what does Faizasyah know about the principles of that line of work, and whose to say smuggling cameras is a violation of journalism?

Nick B (not verified) — Tue, 07/07/2009 - 1:27pm

"Australians do to Aboriginals" is not a fair comment.

Horrible things have happened, yes, but the media including film makers have had the chance to explore the issue and people have had a chance to decide themselves, the result being the "Sorry" by Aus Prime Minister Rudd. The fact that Al-Jazeera has denied us all that right is disappointing and will impact how I view their programming in the future.

The fact that the director felt he had to smuggle the camera's into Indonesia is also a worry. What are the authorities trying to hide? And how did they get Al-Jazeera to toe the line!

Indonesian (not verified) — Tue, 07/07/2009 - 7:52am

kinda remind me of what the Australians do to the Aborigines

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