Jayapura, 26 May (AKI/Jakarta Post) - Two French journalists have been deported from Indonesia after they filmed a protest in Papua province. The journalists were reportedly employed by a Paris-based production company to make a documentary about Indonesia's rise as a modern Muslim-majority state for France's Arte TV channel.
Indonesian officials said their action violated the terms of their visas.
Head of the immigration office Robert Silalahi told Antara state news agency that Baudouin Koenig, 54, and Carole Lorthiois, 27, left Jayapura early Wednesday for Jakarta, from where they would be deported.
He said the two French nationals had no reporting permit in Papua and were caught filming a demonstration outside the Papua legislative council on Monday.
The official added that Koenig only had a permit to film documentary footage on cultural activities in Aceh, Jakarta, Bali, Gorontalo and Sorong in West Papua, while Lorthiois only had a tourist visa.
“The rally they covered had nothing to do with the documentary they were working on,” Robert said.