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| Candles lit in Australia, NZ for 2 French journos facing 20 years' jail in West Papua |
| 2014-09-24 |
| A face frowned through the glass at a bright banner waving on a fishing rod below the consulate window. 15 years in an Indonesian jail can be the penalty for flying the Morningstar flag, symbol of the West Papuan independence movement. But Jakarta's little patch of Sydney lay 50 cm away, separated from Australian soil by a stern metal fence. There was nothing they could do. Indonesia HATES anything that smells like one of their islands might become free. The Bali Bombers cited Australia's help in freeing East Timor as one of their motivations. This flag waving under their noses would have infuriated them A tiny pod of protesters had prisons in mind as they gathered on the Maroubra footpath outside the Indonesian consulate yesterday. They held up candles in glass lanterns for two French journalists who have been trapped in a West Papuan jail for more than 40 days. Depending on how things pan out they could face 20 years behind bars. Valentine Bourrat, 29, and Thomas Dandois, 40 have little prospect of seeing freedom any time soon unless the Indonesian Government relents and lets them go. The journalists went to the secretive region, annexed by Indonesia in 1969, to make a documentary for Arte TV in France. They wanted to report on the independence movement which began fighting after a disputed vote called the "Act of Free Choice" handed the fertile western half of New Guinea to Jakarta. Ms Bourrat and Mr Dandois did what others have done before them. They went in on a tourist visa, and they got caught. The usual penalty is to be deported, but Indonesian authorities have instead responded with a severity that has shocked the media industry. Indonesian police told Fairfax Media reporter Michael Bachelard that the pair were being investigated for criminal subversion after communicating with independence leaders. If they are charged they could face 20 years in prison. The pair could get the maximum five years' jail for the visa breach alone. The Immigration Office in Papua told Fairfax Media that they want the journalists to get the maximum penalty. In New Zealand a lunchtime vigil was held at the central Auckland city church of St Matthews where Vicar Helen Jacobi prayed for the pair. A rally was held in Wellington on the steps of Parliament calling on the NZ Government to help the journalists. In Sydney, supporters held candles at the gates of the Indonesian consulate and gave flowers to passers-by before writing letters of support to send the journalists. More online at VICE Australia |
| Posted by:anon1 |
| #2 rich, too got gold, minerals and timber plus fish in the sea |
| Posted by: anon1 2014-09-24 10:27 |
| #1 handed the fertile western half of New Guinea to Jakarta. ----- I was under the impression it was all fertile as hell, according to an Uncle the place would really grow on ya. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2014-09-24 10:10 |