IFJ Worried for Safety of Journalists in Papua

IFJ Worried for Safety of Journalists in Papua As Elections Loom

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is deeply disturbed by the death of reporter Ardiansyah Matra’is, whose body was found in a river in southern Papua province, Indonesia.

The body of Matra’is, a former stringer for national broadcaster Anteve and reporter for Merauke TV, was discovered on July 30, at a time when threats against journalists in the province are escalating ahead of local elections planned for August and September.

“The death of Matra’is is a terrible tragedy, and the IFJ joins with its affiliate, the Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI), in urging that every effort be made by Indonesia’s authorities to fully investigate the circumstances,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

IFJ sources report that Matra’is was under intense personal strain following his experience of frightening intimidation about 12 months ago.

After publishing a report in Jubi, a Jayapura newspaper, alleging illegal logging activity by Indonesian army officers in Papua, he was reportedly contacted by a group of people claiming to be journalists and invited to accompany them to investigate another case of illegal logging. Matra’is agreed to accompany them to a secret location.

However, according to IFJ sources, the group were not journalists but members of Indonesia’s State Intelligence Agency. Matra’is was subsequently threatened and intimidated, and was allegedly told that his family would be killed unless he returned home to Merauke.

Last week, the journalist’s body was found in a river in Merauke, after he had been missing for two days. IFJ sources say Matra’is’ arm was tied to a tree in order to prevent his body drifting downstream.

Papuan police were expected to complete an autopsy on August 2. However, local police commander Inspector General Bekto Soeprapto said the results would be delayed because the autopsy was to be conducted in Makassar, Celebes, due to lack of suitable facilities in Papua.

Meanwhile, journalists in Papua have received a series of threats by SMS in the past week as local elections approach, the Jakarta Globe reported. IFJ sources report the most recent threat was on July 31, when a letter written in blood was placed at the door of the Mereaukean home of Lala, a reporter with Bintang Papua. Lala has since been evacuated from the area by local police.

Police have sent an anti-terror unit to Merauke to investigate the threats, which according to IFJ sources contain language which gives the impression that the writer is not Papuan.

“The IFJ joins AJI in calling on authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the reported illegal detention and threats issued against Matra’is before his death, and the recent threats perpetrated against journalists in Papua,” Ms Park said

ENDS

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