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Giving foreign journalists access to Papua is 'reactive'
A House of Representatives lawmaker says President Joko âJokowiâ Widodoâs decision to revoke tight requirements applied to foreign journalists wanting to report on Papua is a reactive move
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House of Representatives lawmaker says President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's decision to revoke tight requirements applied to foreign journalists wanting to report on Papua is a reactive move.
The member of House Commission I overseeing defense, foreign affairs and information, Sukamta, said Jokowi's policy was aimed only at responding to international pressure regarding the arrest of two French journalists, namely Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat, for allegedly violating their stay permits in Wamena, Papua, last year.
'The approach taken by Jokowi was a reactive approach, instead of a substantive one,' said Sukamta as quoted by kompas.com in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday.
He said President Jokowi's administration often took reactive policies, including on the handling of foreign news coverage in Papua.
Sukamta called on President Jokowi to first focus his policies on efforts to improve people's prosperity in Papua.
'Once the government is successful in building a prosperity approach in Papua, that will be the time for foreign journalists to freely report on Papua,' said the Prosperous Justice Party politician.
Sukamta reminded Jokowi that there was no guarantee that by giving journalists free access to cover Papua, they would uphold journalistic ethics in the form of balanced reporting.
'Even in a restrictive media coverage environment, many foreign media outlets have violated journalism principles, cornering Indonesia over Papua-related issues in the international community. Something worse might happen if they are now granted free access to report on Papua,' said Sukamta.
Previously, journalists wishing to enter Papua had to fill out a request permission form that required the approval of various government institutions.
Sukamta also feared that providing free media access in Papua at an improper time would lead to mounting pressure to hold a referendum in the region. (fsu/ebf)(+++)
