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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Helena van der Winden (not verified) — Sun, 07/05/2009 - 3:44pm

OK, it is very possible that the Indonesian government involve in the cancellation of the documentary. In fact, I am really sure of the Indonesian government's involvement.

However, why nobody seems to understand that Al-Jazeera is partly responsible too in the cancellation of this program. Do you honestly believe that Al-Jazeera is a free, indepencent and unbiased media? Thank God I am not that naive. Hope you remember that Al-Jazeera is owned by the Qatari government.

Jose Dinoy (not verified) — Sun, 07/05/2009 - 7:28am

Excellent publicity for the documentary. It should now attract more viewers. However, what audience is the documentary targeting. Most of my country men and women are not much interested what is going on in Papua, even if they are aware of the goings-on; they are too busy making ends meet. Don't be mistaken: povert is rife all over Indonesia despite all the handphones and motor bikes. The Papuas are, of course, well aware of the awful situation. Aiming at the so-called political elite would be much better served after the elections. If SBY wins, he may be open to some dialogue on Papua; given the backgrounds of most of the other candidates, they certainly will not! However, in the end what counts is TNI and money and they have proven to make a most decisive mix in Indonesian politics.

Imawan (not verified) — Sun, 07/05/2009 - 4:08am

I think that this is the right decision because this is not good interferes with Indonesia's problems. The best thing to do from those people who don't agree about this, is to just to send your consent/complaints to the nearest Indonesian Embassy, etc.
Also, one thing that everyone must remember is it is either you like or not like, you have like that Papua is a part of Indonesia.

Borsa — Wed, 07/08/2009 - 2:09pm

Dear Imawan, that West Papua be a part of Indonesia is the version of the Indonesian authorities since 1963, and of a few Indonesians like you who seem to have some interest in that question. Apart from a sham referendum in 1969, sponsored by a coward UN under the influence of the USA, the actual owners of that land, that is, the different people native of West Papua, have not yet expressed their willing to be part of Indonesia. So give them a chance to freely express their opinion on this, instead of speaking on their behalf.

Kim ludvig (not verified) — Sat, 07/04/2009 - 7:45pm

One additional issue in this case is that it shows that Al-Jazeera clearly show it is not the "flaggship" for the free and unbiased journalism, that they like to portray them self as. This is not the only example where Al-jazeera have allowed themself to be pressured by goverments or powerful players.
Hopefully this case will open peoples eyes not only for the Papuan peoples situation, but also for Al-Jazeeras sometimes biased journalism and unwillingness to critizise goverments and powerful/popular organisations in their area.

Borsa — Mon, 07/06/2009 - 8:53am

Not so long ago, British journalist Max Stahl made a footage of the Santa Cruz cemetary massacre in Dili. He had to bury the videotapes and a few months later he was able to retrieve them and smuggled them out of Timor Leste, so that ordinary people would at last be reached by evidence of atrocities in Timor Leste under the yoke of the Indonesian military. Again in 1999, after most foreign journalists had departed from Timor Leste when TNI and their militias had begun their killings and sacking, Max Stahl was there again, secretely filming from the heights of Dili.

According to Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokeman Teuku Faizasyah, this amounted to "violating Indonesian law and the principles of journalism". Max Stahl risked his life for reporting from occupied Timor Leste. He not only complied with the rules of journalism, he actually did it in a heroic manner.

Ten years later, Jono van Hest releases his film from West Papua, a country occupied since 1963 by militaristic Indonesia and where journalists are denied entry visas. Filming West Papua using smuggled cameras is a highly risky project, in a country under the permanent, hostile watch of BIN or Kopassus. Jono van Hest was able to produce a film that is a precious, first-hand account of what is going on in West Papua. I wish him the same mediatic success as Max Stahl's videos. Let us hope that his film will trigger worldwide attention on the plight of West Papua. And let's hope that this time, a more democratic Indonesia will accept facing the problems, instead of continuing to cover them up.

Julian (not verified) — Sat, 07/04/2009 - 4:35pm

I originally wrote this as a response to this (http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/07/01/al-jazeera-premiere-papua-...) but with the news that the program has been canceled and the activity on this, I would like to make my comment here.

Mr. Darmosumarto,
It is nice to hear someone articulate an argument in defense of Jakarta’s strategy in Papua. Unfortunately, it is not convincing. First of all, the fall back argument “Indonesia is a developing country” wont work forever. But ok, lets look at your entire argument and call this an economic problem. Why then, is Indonesia’s richest province the least developed and stagnating? Why is there only one MP from Irian Jaya? Why is the GDP of non indigenous people in Papua so much higher than those from Papua in Papua? Let me ask you the simplest question. Can you give some examples of improvements since 1997?

The question about celebrating the diversity of Indo is a red herring. Australia and Canada genuinely try to have diversity celebrated. They allow people to celebrate their traditions, while ensuring they are part of the national fabric. Indonesia can’t say this. Why are an overwhelming majority of images on the TV and newspapers showing Papuans in an angry, negative light? Why are there so many jokes about Papuan dirty black skin and ugly curly hair? Why from Sumatra to Sulawasi is the Koteka humorous instead of honorable? Why are the only celebrated Papuans football players and musicians and no intellectuals are ever presented? Indonesia has already emotionally divorced itself from Irian Jaya.

So why not go ahead and physically divorce? Suharto fought so hard to keep Indonesia together not because of some great belief in diversity, but because Java island is not where the money is. The Outer Islands have been propping up Jakarta. None more so that Irian Jaya. If Irian Jaya is not under occupation, why are the police and security forces dominated by people not from Papua? It always seems to come back to money and getting rich overnight, instead of earning it over time. The only thing that has made handsome progress is the rate that natural resources leave Papua.

The worst part is the shutting down of criticism. Indonesian people try to kill criticism by saying it is “not polite” to be confrontational. Prita is not in jail now because the rules and dictates of the New Order are gone. Indonesians are aware of their rights and responsibilities as citizens. It is embarrassing how the Foreign Ministry approached this AJE program. Their spokesman admitted to not even watching it! So how does he know it is sensational. Does Teuku Faizasyah really think that since AJE is not Western backed the nefarious behavior Jakarta practices in Papua should be glossed over? Enough of the excuses and side stepping. It is not always the Dutch, Americans, Chinese, English, NATO, Doctors, your mother dying, Malaysia, he is being corrupt too, Western arrogance, the bus was late, Indonesia is a developing country, or traffic’s fault. Michael Jackson wrote a song about the man in the mirror. Try to learn from it Mr. Darmosumarto.

George P (not verified) — Sat, 07/04/2009 - 2:43pm

The question that the commenters are not asking here is - was the documentary accurate? Given that the filmmaker spent months with the OPM and has said publicly that he made the film to be sympathetic to them, it is likely that the film was pulled because it was propaganda rather than a documentary.

I think that the real reason this film was not screened was that Al Jazeera realised that the film was not up to their usual standards of impartiality.

Keith harding (not verified) — Sat, 07/04/2009 - 11:06am

Strategy- what a way to get people enthusiastic about a movie is by pulling it and saying its controversial. what will most likely happen is that its played at a later date with 1000% more audience than previously anticipated due to the free publicity.

Moksha (not verified) — Sat, 07/04/2009 - 1:39am

Dear readers,
The pulling of this documentary just shows what a huge ammount of criminality and brutality the Indonesian Government and their Military have to hide-why else would one of the most free thinking news groups in the world who pride themselves in representing the unrepresented FAIL to show what must be a truly revealing and groundbreaking piece of journalism>>>
there must have been some huge threats made.

Regarding an earlier comment made here about Indonesia's sovereignty over Papua>Why should Indonesia not talk to NGOs and other Governments about Papua? This unwillingness to talk openly also shows the extent of the unanswered questions Indonesia trys to hide. What is wrong with having a conversation with world leaders about West Papua?

Of course the massive gold and copper mines in Papua are hugely important to Indonesia's economy but the human rights abuses which have unfortunately occurred alongside them are also very detrimental to Indonesia's reputation as a 'Democratic' state.

I challenge anyone who denies the extent of the horrific crimes Indonesian security forces have commited on the Papuan people, to go to West Papua themselves and speak to Papuans and hear their experiences. You will find it hard to meet anyone who has not been negatively affected by Indonesian rule. Women and girls in rural areas were raped only a few weeks ago by Indonesian military personnel and yesterday 2 Papuans were shot, one killed by the same forces.

I challenge you to seek this information for yourselves rather than believe the propaganda and let the others decide the news we hear and see.

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