TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Eight journalists from the Asia Pacific and African countries met with representatives of the Indonesian Journalist Network Tuesday for talks on press freedom in Papua and West Papua Provinces.

In attendance were Timoci Tavaiviti Vula of the Fiji Sun, Royson Willie with Vanuatu Daily Post, Alfred Solomon Sasoko and Loji Mathias Avla of the Solomon Islands, Elias Aweke Tedesse from Focus Magazine in Ethiopia, Rasoamaromaka Rejo with Radio National of Madagascar, Anthony Mochama Ontita from The Standard in Kenya, and Mashaka Bonifas Mgeta with The Guardian in Tanzania.

As part of programs scheduled during their visit to Jayapura, the capital city of Papua Province, they participated in the Indonesian Foreign Ministry-sponsored Journalist Visit Program, meeting with Jorsul Sattuan of TV One, Alfian Rumagit from Antara news agency, Marcel Benhur Kellen with Media Indonesia Daily, Edi Siswanto of MNC Group, Richard Jackson Mayor of Suluh Papua, and Harlet dan Vian with Dhara Pos.

At the meeting, the visiting journalists asked about and clarified various issues related to Papua, including the practice of press freedom, the methods of conducting impartial news reporting on human rights issues, and methods of securing accurate information on events occurring in remote areas.

The dialogue was productive. Elias Aweke Tedesse, for instance, suggested to his Indonesian counterparts that it would be good for them to create synergy with international press organizations because, in doing so, they would gain greater opportunities for boosting their professional capacity and networking abilities.

"Even if journalists in Papua need financial support for in-depth news reporting, they can likely get that. Of course, a credible proposal for gaining this financial support is necessary," he stated.

Meanwhile, Secretary of the IJN-Papua and West Papua Chapters Jorsul Sattuan noted that local journalists enjoyed adequate freedom of the press in performing their jobs. "We are free enough when reporting on events in the community. Of course, we need to care for our professional values and journalistic standards," he stressed.

Compared to many other countries, there was no curfew in Papua and West Papua Provinces. "Thus, we and the general public can perform our routine activities freely, 24 hours a day," he said.

The foreign journalists were in Jayapura as part of the Journalist Visit Program, which took place from November 8 through 18, 2015. Besides visiting Jayapura, they also visited Jakarta, Bekasi, Sukabumi, and Bandung (West Java).

ANTARA