An Intimidation on Journalist in Papua has Broken Democracy

Several journalists have been intimidated and threatened while covering the rerun election in the Mamberamo Raya regency in Papua. Rivand Nay, of private television station RCTI in Papua, was reportedly threatened by a group of men armed with bows, arrows and machetes at the Kampung Fona I polling station on Thursday. His camera was also confiscated. Rivand was forced to remain inside his house as the armed men continued to mill around outside.
 
"It began on Thursday when I left my house (to cover the election). I had only walked for around five minutes when I was suddenly blocked by around 10 people who had bows and arrows and short machetes. They told me to turn back and they kept my camera," said Rivand. The journalist said one of the unidentified persons aimed a bow and arrow at his chest.
 
On Saturday, Rivand was picked up from Kampung Fona by a helicopter and transported to Kasoanwerja, the capital of Mamberamo Raya regency.  "I feel safe now," he told thejakartapost.com on Sunday. Rivand said two members of the police Mobile Brigade witnessed the incident during which the people blocked him and seized his camera but they did not do anything.

Papua Post journalist Gultom Pangaribuan said he and 10 other people were taken hostage at the Kampung Fona II polling station. He said there were two Mamberamo Raya Police officers at the polling station but they were too afraid to take action.

In total, nine journalists from various media outlets were covering the rerun election in Mamberamo Raya on Thursday. Each polling station was covered by one journalist. "All the journalists have been intimidated and prohibited from taking pictures of the election by supporters of one of the regent and deputy regent candidate pairs," Vivanews.com journalist Banjir Ambarita said.

"We have reported what we experienced to the election supervisory committee in Mamberamo Raya," said Gultom. (http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/12/journalists-intimidated-while-covering-rerun-election-in-papua.html)

Must Be Investigated

The circulation of news about Papuan journalist who had intimidated and hostaged while covering rerun election in Mamberamo Raya regency has been taken a various comment from journalist communities in Papua and West Papua.
 
According to Jefri Patirajawani, the Coordinator of Indonesia Journalist Network (IJN) said the three of journalist who has been informed have an intimidation and a hostage from a local resident while covering rerun election in Mamberamo Raya regency must be investigated about the truthness of it.

Why two weeks after rerun election had done, the news of journalist was blow up. He further explain, actually when the journalist has covered at inland area, they shouldn't be separated each other.

Meanwhile, IJN Papua-West Papua Secretary, Jorzul Satuan said The intimidation on journalist has forbidden by positive law in Indonesia and its has been violation on an election law and journalist law.

He further demanded that the Police should be taken  a firmly action to prepatators who had been done intimidation and hostage and one of prepatators was knew frome one of candidate. Whilst, journalist organization and journalist corporate should be watched law enforcement process on these case.
    
An intimidation and a hostage to journalist in Papua has broken a democracy itself. These case must be investigated by a law enforcement apparatus with a journalist communities such as a journalist organization and a journalist corporate. It is shown that the prepatators didn't have a democracy spirit to be a winner or a losser.
    
General election commission (KPU) should be punished one of candidate of Mamberamo Raya Regency as a prepatators if it has proven by an investigation result by the police or KPU itself.
    
A Local election has been held in several regency, districts and province in Indonesia also in Papua and West Papua is dedicated to implement a postive and a conducive democracy. The case in Mamberamo Raya, Papua has shown every candidate has implemented whatever way to win although its broke a democracy values.

These case could be benefit for National Committee West Papua (KNPB), United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and Papua Freedom Organization (OPM) have been used ones to be their propaganda and their agitation massages that the integration of Papua to Indonesia since 1969 didn't make advantages for Papuan itself, including a local election in Papua has broken Papuan local wisdom.
    
Furthermore, KPU and local government in Mamberamo Raya Regency also a security apparatus must be handled these case with carefully and reducing negative impact from ones in order to itself doesn't break a conducive situation and always to maintenance peace and harmony in Papua especially in Mamberamo Raya Regency. Hopefully.

*) The writer is a Papua issues and a current issue affairs observer. She is also a political researcher at Galesong Institute, Jakarta.