By Paul of Kumparan in Jayapura
The Indonesian Immigration Office in West Papua has warned that it will take firm action against foreign journalists trying to cover the elections in the Melanesian region.
This was emphasised by Manokwari Class II Non-TPI Immigration Office West Papua representative Bugie Kurniawan at a meeting on foreign surveillance at the Bintuni Bay regency last week.
“We will act firmly if there are foreign media [journalists] reporting on April 17. Report them to us if there are foreigners covering TPS [polling stations], we will secure and deport those concerned and enter their names on the banned list,” he said.
READ MORE: Papuans plan to boycott Indonesian elections
Kurniawan said the Immigration Office was coordinating with the General Elections Supervisory Board in “dealing with” foreign journalists reporting in West Papua.
“Firm measures must be taken because we’re coordinating with the Bintuni Bay regency Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu),” he said.
Kurniawan added that so far there had not been any information on foreign media reporting during the elections in Bintuni Bay regency.
Translated by James Balowski for Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was “Wartawan Asing Dilarang Meliput Pemilu Di Papua Barat“.
It only means the Indonesian government intends to rig the elections. The surprising thing is why go through such a fake exercise ???
Rex Rumakiek: BOYCOTT, BOYCOTT Papuans are not Indonesian citizens. They have never been treated as such, they have never been protected by the laws of the country. There has never been any court of law for Papuans suspected of breaking the law. They are more likely to be shot instead of arrested to be processed by the courts of law. BOYCOTT.
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