A journalist with Papua local channel Merauke TV was found dead on Friday, apparently from torture.
Family members discovered the naked, handcuffed body of Ardiansyah was floating in Gudang Arang River in the Papua regency of Merauke.
With assistance from local military soldiers, the family sent the remains of Ardiansyah to Merauke Hospital for an autopsy.
Jojo, chief editor of local daily Koran Rajawali, told Antara news agency journalists in the regency had received death threats sent by text messages related to their coverage of the upcoming regional election.
“The senders said they would kill the journalists and they could not seek protection from the military or police. Some of the journalists have reported the threats to the police,” Jojo said.
Secretary of the Papua chapter of Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI), Leo Siahaan, expected Ardiansyah’s death had nothing to do with his journalistic works.
Ardiansyah formerly worked for ANTV and local tabloid Jubi