Papua Police Arrest French Journalist, Separatists
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Jumat, 8 Agustus 2014 00:48 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - French journalist Tendeis Charles Thomas, 40, was arrested by the Jayawijaya Police in Wamena, Papua, on Thursday morning, August 7. Tendeis was captured along with three suspected separatists, whose group is supposedly led by Puron Wenda and Enden Wanimbo. Wenda and Wanimbo have long been suspected as gunmen operating in Papua's highlands.
"Tendeis was arrested at Hotel Mas Budi, Wamena, Jayawijaya, with three of Enden Wanimbo and Wenda Puron's men," Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Pudjo Sulistyo told reporters on Thursday.
The three separatist suspects, 24 years old JW, LK (17), and DD (27), said Pudjo, came from Lanny Jaya district.
Pudjo said Tendeis violated his visa permit as written in his passport. "His visa stated that his visit to Wamena was as a tourist visa, but was carrying out illegal reporting activities."
"Until now, both foreign and NGO journalists are still banned by the central government from doing report or research activities in Papua," said Pudjo, who said he fears that these activities are engineered to create chaos.
Pudjo said the Frenchman and the three separatist suspects will be taken to Jayapura on Friday morning for further investigation.
"We are still mulling on what laws will be used to charge the suspects, whether it's the Press Law, the Criminal Code, the Immigration Law or something else," Pudjo said.
CUNDING LEVI