Siaran Pers

Jakarta—Menjadi tuan rumah Hari Kebebasan Pers Dunia 2017 atau World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) pada 3 Mei 2017 tidak lantas menjadikan Indonesia terbuka untuk jurnalis dari seluruh dunia. Beberapa hari setelah pelaksanaan kegiatan kelas dunia tersebut, Imigrasi Indonesia mengintimidasi dua orang jurnalis asing dan mengusir enam jurnalis asing lainnya yang meliput di Indonesia. Dua jurnalis ditahan dan diiterogasi di Jakarta, sementara enam lainnya dari Papua. Kedelapan jurnalis ini dianggap melakukan aktivitas jurnalistik secara ilegal, karena tidak memiliki visa jurnalis.

Informasi yang didapatkan AJI Indonesia menyebutkan, dua jurnalis yang mengalami intimidasi di Jakarta adalah Vilhelm Stokstad (fotografer) dan Axel Kronholm (jurnalis). Keduanya asal Swedia. Sementara enam jurnalis yang keluar dari Papua bekerja untuk rumah produksi Nagano di Jepang.

Vilhelm dan Axel dibuntuti oleh petugas imigrasi Jakarta, seusai keduanya meliput demonstrasi pada 5 Mei (5/5/2017) yang diselenggarakan oleh Gerakan Nasional Pengawal Fatwa Majelis Ulama Indonesia (GNPF MUI) di sekitar Masjid Istiqlal, Jakarta. Keduanya didekati di sebuah restauran, sebelum ditangkap untuk dibawa ke kantor imigrasi. Keduanya lantas diinterogasi satu per satu.

Dalam prosesnya, keduanya dipaksa menghapus semua gambar dari demonstrasi yang diliputnya, khususnya hasil bidikan yang di dalamnya terdapat bendera-bendera yang dibawa demonstran. Vilhelm dan Axel juga diminta untuk tidak mempublikasikan apapun tentang demonstrasi itu. Alasan mereka, berita demonstrasi akan menciptakan “kesan keliru tentang Indonesia.” 

Proses tersebut berlanjut ke apartemen tempat mereka menginap. Di situ petugas memotret paspor kedua jurnalis, serta berulang kali mengatakan bahwa aktivitas mereka dalam meliput demonstrasi tersebut illegal karena tidak memiliki ijin meliput. Mereka akhirnya meninggalkan Indonesia beberapa waktu lalu.

Vilhelm mengatakan kepada AJI bahwa dirinya dan Axel telah berusaha dengan keras untuk mendapatkan visa jurnalis sebelum masuk ke Indonesia, prosesnya sudah lebih dari satu bulan. Proses birokrasinya rumit, mulai dari permintaan untuk mengirimkan daftar narasumber, hingga meminta Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Terorisme (BNPT), untuk menuliskan ‘surat penerimaan.’ 

“BNPT mengatakan harusnya bukan kami yang menulis surat permohonan kepada mereka, tetapi langsung dari kedutaan [Indonesia] di mana kami memasukkan permohonan pembuatan visa jurnalis,” kata Vilhelm pada AJI. Dan dengan alasan hal yang diminta merupakan hal yang sangat internal, Vilhelm dan Axel kemudian diberitahu bahwa surat permohonan mereka kepada BNPT tidak dapat diteruskan.

Menurut informasi yang diperoleh AJI, pada demontrasi 5 Mei tersebut, setidaknya dua jurnalis asing yang berkantor di Jakarta juga didesak untuk memperlihatkan kartu persnya oleh petugas imigrasi. Petugas juga memotret kartu pers jurnalis asing tersebut.

Sementara di Papua, Kyodo News memberitakan, enam jurnalis dari Jepang ditangkap di Kota Wamena, Jayawijaya, Rabu (10/05/2017). Keenam orang itu dalam proses membuat video dokumenter Suku Mamuna dan Suku Korowai di Papua bagian tenggara. Selain keenam jurnalis Jepang, Imigrasi Papua juga menangkap dua pemandu wisata asal Indonesia yang ketika itu mendampingi mereka, meski akhirnya dibebaskan. Setelah ditahan dan diperiksa selama sehari penuh, keenam jurnalis Jepang itu diminta keluar dari Indonesia pada Kamis (11/05/2017).

Ketua Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI) Suwarjono menegaskan, pengusiran delapan jurnalis asing adalah bukti bahwa Indonesia memang belum sepenuhnya terbuka bagi aktivitas jurnalistik. Terutama jurnalis asing. Adanya “clearing house”—melibatkan sejumlah kementerian atau lembaga negara—untuk menyaring nama-nama jurnalis yang akan masuk ke Indonesia, menjadikan Indonesia wilayah yang gelap bagi jurnalis asing.

“Keterangan yang didapatkan AJI, proses penerbitan visa jurnalis sangatlah berbelit dan cenderung lama,” jelas Suwarjono, Minggu (14/05/2017). “Dalam kasus dua jurnalis Swedia ini, misalnya, mereka diminta untuk mengungkapkan sumber, daftar orang yang akan diwawancarai, sampai memiliki ‘surat penerimaan’ dari Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Terorisme atau BNPT.”

Mekanisme ini, tambah Suwarjono, menjadi alat pemerintah membatasi jurnalis-jurnalis yang ingin melaporkan berita-berita dari Indonesia secara langsung. Parahnya, mekanisme “clearing house” ini tidak transparan karena memang tidak memiliki dasar hukum yang jelas.

“Padahal, dengan membuka akses seluas-luasnya bagi jurnalis asing justru menguntungkan Indonesia. Jurnalis asing menjadi salah satu pintu masuk untuk mengabarkan berbagai hal positif di Indonesia. Bila ada hal-hal negatif yang ikut diberitakan, pemerintah punya kesempatan untuk menjelaskannya secara terbuka pula.” jelas Suwarjono.

Penutupan akses liputan, lanjut Suwarjono, justru merugikan pemerintah Indonesia. Karena media asing tidak mendapatkan sumber-sumber langsung, sesuai fakta lapangan, namun informasi dari pihak lain yang bisa jadi tidak akurat.

“Internet membuat semua informasi terbuka, sangat aneh kalau masih ada pembatasan secara fisik. Media tetap akan mendapat sumber yang sama dari sumber lain,” kata dia.

Khusus untuk Papua, menurut Suwarjono, pengusiran enam jurnalis Jepang memperpanjang daftar kasus kekerasan pada jurnalis di Papua.  

Pada 1 Mei 2017 lalu, atau dua hari menjelang WPFD 2017, kekerasan dialami jurnalis di Papua. Yance Wenda, jurnalis Koran Jubi dan tabloidjubi.com dipukuli polisi hingga terluka, saat meliput penangkapan para aktivis Komite Nasional Papua Barat (KNPB). Sebelumnya, pada 28 April lalu, tiga wartawan televisi dari Metro TV, Jaya TV, dan TVRI diintimidasi saat meliput sidang lanjutan pidana Pilkada Kabupaten Tolikara di Pengadilan Negeri (PN) Wamena pada 28 April 2017, oleh pengunjung sidang. Polisi yang mengetahui peristiwa itu tidak berupaya melindungi ketiga jurnalis.

Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI) Kota Jayapura mencatat,  sepanjang tahun 2015 hingga awal 2016, hanya ada 15 jurnalis asing yang diizinkan masuk ke Papua. Tabloidjubi.com menulis, jurnalis Radio New Zealand International, Johnny Blades mengaku membutuhkan waktu tiga bulan untuk mendapatkan visa masuk ke Papua. Meski memiliki visa peliputan, di Papua Blades ditolak oleh kepolisian dan TNI saat hendak mengkonfirmasi beberapa liputan yang didapatnya. Jurnalis Radio France, Marie Dumieres, juga dicari-cari polisi saat melakukan liputan di Papua. Maret tahun ini Franck Jean Pierre Escudie dan Basille Marie Longchamp, jurnalis dari The Explorers Network, dideportasi.

Berdasarkan data yang dihimpun AJI Indonesia, sepanjang Mei 2016 hingga April 2017 telah terjadi 72 kasus kekerasan yang dialami oleh para jurnalis yang menjalankan profesinya. Kasus kekerasan itu bahkan didominasi bentuk kekerasan fisik, yang mencapai 38 kasus. Pengusiran dan/atau pelarangan liputan juga masih marak, dengan temuan sebanyak 14 kasus.

Jakarta, 14 Mei 2017
Ketua Umum AJI Indonesia, Suwarjono
Sekjen AJI Indonesia, Arfi Bambani

Narahubung:
1.  Suwarjono 0818758624
2.  Arfi Bambani 0856728373

Koreksi: Vilhelm Stokstad dan Axel Kronholm menerima ancaman dan intimidasi di Jakarta, namun tidak disertai dengan pengusiran seperti yang AJI sebutkan sebelumnya. Press release diperbarui pada 19 Mei 2017.

ENGLISH VERSION

AJI Strongly Protests Intimidation and Expulsion of Foreign Journalists in Jakarta and Papua

While Indonesia played host for World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) May 3, not all foreign journalists are welcomed with open arms to the country. A few days following the world class event, Indonesian immigration authority had threatened and expelled eight foreign journalists who were reporting in the country. Two were intimidated when covering a rally in Jakarta, the other six were expelled from Papua. They were accused of conducting illegal journalism activities since they did not hold journalist visas.

The two journalists who experienced intimidation in Jakarta were identified by the Alliance of Independent Journalists alliance (AJI) as Vilhelm Stokstad (photographer) and Axel Kronholm (reporter), both from Sweden. The six journalists who were told to leave Papua were working for a production house in Nagano, Japan.

Stokstad and Kronholm were followed by Jakarta immigration officers after covering the May 5 rally organized by the National Movement to Safeguard the Fatwa of Indonesian Council of Ulemas (GNPF MUI) in the area in Central Jakarta. The two men were approached at a restaurant before being apprehended and detained at the immigration office. They were questioned separately. During the course of the interrogation, the two journalists were forced to delete all images taken during the rally, especially shots showing flags brought by the crowd. Stokstad and Kronholm were also asked not to publish any material about the rally. 

"They threatened to blacklist us if we publish or talk about this," Stokstad said. The officers argued that news about the rally might "give the wrong idea" about Indonesia.

The two journalists were then accompanied back to their apartment. There the immigration officers photographed the passports of both journalists and repeatedly said that their reporting of the rally had been illegal since they did not hold any media permit. Stokstad and Kronholm had since left Indonesia.

Stokstad told AJI that he and Kronholm had put a lot of effort into obtaining journalist visas prior to their arrival in Indonesia; a process that had taken them over a month. The complicated application process required them to name their sources and obtain a letter of acceptance from the Indonesian counter terrorism agency BNPT.

"We were told by BNPT that we were not supposed to apply for the acceptance letter ourselves. The [Indonesian] embassy [where the journalist visa application was filed] had to make the contact since it is an internal affair," Stokstad told AJI. 

However, on informing the embassy of this, Stokstad and Kronholm were told that their journalist visa application had been dropped.

AJI sources revealed that at the May 5 rally at least two Jakarta-based foreign journalists were forced by immigration officials to show their press cards, which were then photographed.  

Meanwhile Kyodo News reported that six Japanese journalists had been arrested on Wednesday, May 10,  in Wamena, a city in Jayawijaya, Papua. They had been in the process of shooting a documentary video of the indigenous tribes Mamuna and Korowai in southeast Papua. Two Indonesian guides who were accompanying the journalists were also apprehended, although they had subsequently been released. After they had been detained for questioning for a whole day, the Japanese journalists were told to leave Indonesia on the following Thursday, May 11. 

AJI President Suwarjono said that the expulsion of the eight foreign journalists showed that Indonesia is not yet thoroughly accessible for journalism activities, particularly by foreign journalists. The existence of a "clearing house" involving a number of ministries and government agencies to screen journalists coming to Indonesia has cast a shadow on the country in the eye of foreign media. 

"Information received by AJI revealed how complicated and time-consuming the process of applying for journalist visa," Suwarjono said on Monday, May 14. "In the case of the two Swedish journalists, for instance, they were asked to reveal their sources and list of interviewees, and to obtain a letter of acceptance from the counter-terrorism agency BNPT."

Suwarjono added that the mechanism works as a government instrument to limit the number of journalists reporting live from the country. Worse, the "clearing house" mechanism is not transparent, since it is not based on clear legal grounds. "By opening a wide access for foreign media, Indonesia stands to gain an advantage. Foreign journalists are one of the gateways for positive information about Indonesia. And in the event that any negative information is reported, the government will have the opportunity to openly clarify," he said.

By shutting down reporting access, Suwarjono added, the government had only put itself at a disadvantage. Barred from direct sources and actual facts, foreign media would have to rely on information from other sources which might be inaccurate. 

"The Internet has made all information accessible. It is absurd that there is still this barrier to physical access. The media would still receive the same information from other sources."

With Papua in particular, Suwarjono said that the expulsion of the six Japanese journalists only added to the province's  long list of cases of violence against journalists. On May 1, just two days before the 2017 WPFD, a journalist became a victim of violence in Papua. Yance Wenda, a journalist for Koran Jubi and tabloidjubi.com was beaten by the police while reporting the arrest of activists of the National Committee of West Papua (KNPB).

Three days before that, on April 28, three television journalists from Metro TV, Jaya TV and TVRI experienced intimidation while covering a trial in Wamena District Court. An unknown group of visitors surrounded them, questioning them and forcing them to delete their footage of the trial. Police witnessed the entire incident but didn’t intervene.

Throughout 2015 and early 2016, only 15 foreign journalists were granted access to Papua, according to the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Jayapura chapter. Radio New Zealand International journalist Johnny Blades needed three months to get his visa approved to enter Papua, and was denied a response by the police and military for his story, according to Tabloidjubi.com. Radio France journalist Marie Dumieres was closely monitored by the police when she was working on her story in the province. In March, Franck Jean Pierre Escudie and Basille Marie Longchamp, journalists for The Explorers Network, were deported. 

In the 12 months to April 2017, The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia recorded 72 cases of violence and intimidation against journalists, including 38 incidents of physical assault. In nine cases, journalists were forced to delete their photos or footage.