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Plan to invite foreign journalists to Papua may be ‘politicized’
Activists argue that the move to invite Asia-Pacific journalists to Papua might have been politicized, with the government using the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) to further its political agenda of expanding diplomatic relations with several Pacific states.
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Journalists still face several issues while covering news in Papua, including about safety, access and surveillance. (Shutterstock/File)
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n a bid to give foreign media access to reporting about Papua, the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) has planned to bring several foreign journalists to the province, which has been marred by violence for years.
With a full support of the government, the PWI is to show the foreign journalists that “nothing wrong is happening in Papua”.
The plan, however, was criticized by human rights and media activists at home. They argued that the move might have been politicized, with the government using the PWI to strengthen its political agenda of expanding diplomatic relations with several Pacific countries.
PWI chairman Atal Sembiring Depari previously said his organization was mulling over a plan to invite “Asia-Pacific journalists” to Papua during the celebration of National Press Day on Feb. 9, 2020 in the province’s capital, Jayapura.
“We can use this opportunity to prove to the world that everything is alright in Papua,” Atal said after a meeting with Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Minister Wiranto on Aug.5.
He added “outsiders” often accused the government of treating the country’s easternmost province poorly by committing various human rights violations and injustices.
“That’s not factual,” he said.
