Govt urged to thoroughly investigate Papuan journalist's murder

The Indonesian Human Rights Monitor (Imparsial) and the Indonesian Journalist Alliance (AJI) urged the government to investigate the murder of Ardiansyah Matra'is, a reporter of Merauke TV in Papua.

"The state has failed to perform its duty to protect a human rights defender," Imparsial's managing director Poengky Indarti told the press in Jakarta Saturday.

Matra'is was found dead at the Maro river in Merauke, Papua on July 30. Earlier, he had received threats through text messages. His death was allegedly linked to his coverage of illegal logging practices published in Jubi magazine last year.   

The National Police Headquarters confirmed Friday that Matra'is was murdered and drowned into the river as indicated by the post-mortem result. (lnd)