The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its Indonesian
affiliate the Alliance Of Independent Journalist (AJI) in urging a thorough
investigation into the death of a journalist in Indonesia’s eastern Papua
Province on Sunday April 8.
Leiron Kogoya, 35, a journalist for Papua
Pos Nabire and Pasifik Pos Dail,
was a passenger in a small Twin Otter plane attacked by unidentified shooters while
touching down at Mulia Airport, in Papua's Puncak Jaya district. Leiron was
visiting Mulia to cover the local elections in the provincial capital, Jayapura.
Information gathered by AJI suggests that although Leiron was not a
specific target, he received a shot in the right neck during the initial attack
and died shortly afterwards.
After being hit, the Trigana Air flight, and its eight
passengers and crew, crashed into an airport building. Provincial police spokesman
Johannes Nugroho reported that in addition to Leiron’s death, four were wounded
in the plane incident, including the two pilots, a female passenger and a
four-year-old boy.
“The IFJ joins its affiliate AJI in condemning these
attacks, and calls for an active investigation by Indonesian Police to identify
and punish those responsible”, IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.
“This latest incident highlights the dangers faced by
journalists in Indonesia when carrying out their duties.
The IFJ urges Indonesia Police to do all they can to
ensure the safety and security of civilians, including journalists, and reminds
journalists to exercise due care when reporting from dangerous or unstable
locations”
For
further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0950
The IFJ
represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries
Find
the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific