PETITION FOR THE RELEASE OF TWO FRENCH JOURNALISTS HELD IN INDONESIA
PUBLISHED ON SATURDAY 11 OCTOBER 2014. UPDATED ON TUESDAY 7 OCTOBER 2014.
As French journalists Valentine Bourrat and Thomas Dandois begin their third month in detention in Indonesia, their support committee in France and Reporters Without Borders are launching a petition for their immediate release.
The petition, which notes that “fundamental freedoms, including the freedom to inform, concern the immense majority,” has already been signed by leading journalists such as Édith Bouvier, Claire Chazal, Laurent Delahousse, Guy Lagache, Jean-Pierre Pernaut, Patrick Poivre d’Arvor, David Pujadas, Harry Roselmack and Melissa Theuriaux.
It has also been signed by such well-known public figures as Laurent Baffie, Charles Berling, Jane Birkin, Cali, Michel Cymes, Jamel Debbouze, Benoît Hamon, Baptiste Lecaplain, Noël Mamère, André Manoukian and Bruno Solo.
Detained in Jayapura, the capital of the eastern province of Papua (on the island of New Guinea), Bourrat and Dandois were arrested while preparing a report for the Franco-German TV station Arte. They are accused of violating immigration regulations and are facing the possibility of a long trial and a sentence of up to five years in prison.
“Bourrat and Dandois did not apply for press visas because such visas are rarely granted and would have resulted in restrictions on their ability to work freely,” said Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire.
“The aim of this petition is to make the Indonesian authorities realize that it is absolutely unacceptable for them to continue detaining these journalists with the aim of deterring media coverage of Papua.”
To sign the petition, click here.
FREE TWO FRENCH JOURNALISTS
DETAINED IN INDONESIA
French journalists Valentine Bourrat and Thomas Dandois have been detained in the Indonesian province of Papua (on the island of New Guinea) ever since 6 August, when they were arrested while doing a report for the Franco-German TV station Arte.
They decided to work without official permission because they knew it was extremely hard to get a press visa for Papua and because they would be freer to move about and meet all they people they needed to talk to for their story.
But they were caught and now they are accused of violating immigration regulations. Until now, foreign journalists arrested in similar circumstances have been expelled within a few days. But Bourrat and Dandois have been held for nearly two months and are facing the possibility of a long trial and a sentence of up to five years in prison.
Bourrat and Dandois are experienced field reporters whose work has been broadcast in France and other countries and who have received prestigious awards. Their journalistic independence and integrity is recognized by the entire profession and is beyond dispute.
Fundamental freedoms, including the freedom to inform, concern everyone. We therefore call on both well-known figures and ordinary members of the public to sign our petition for the release of Bourrat and Dandois.
