Dylan Amirio, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | National | Wed, May 13 2015, 4:01 PM
In response to a move by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to remove barriers to access for foreign journalists seeking to report in Papua, an Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker says that journalists aiming to use this right must also be aware of the legal limitations.
Even though Jokowi said all foreign journalists were free to enter Papua, PDI-P lawmaker TB Hasanuddin reminded that certain laws and ministerial decrees determined whether journalists had permission to enter.
Among them is a Communications and Information Ministry decree issued in 2005, which states that all foreign media aiming to conduct journalistic activities in Indonesia must have ministerial permission, regardless of where they report, Hasanuddin said on Wednesday.
Another decree from the Foreign Ministry says a police permit is necessary to report in Papua as well, Hasanuddin said, adding that despite the freedom Jokowi described, foreign journalists must still adhere to existing laws.
“I think what the President meant was that foreign journalists were welcome inside any part of Indonesian territory. Previously, the attitude towards them on Papua was very restrictive,” Hasanuddin told reporters on Wednesday.