Friday, April 13, 2012

PFF Joins Call For Action Over Plane Attack In Papua

PFF,Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Pacific media watchdogs are keento see closure and prosecution from Indonesia's Policeforces investigating the plane attack in Indonesia's Papuaprovince on Sunday 8 April, which killed 35 year oldjournalist Leiron Kegoya.

Kegoya, a journalist for thePapua Pos and Pasifik Pos Dail was on assignment to coverlocal elections in the Papua provincial capital Jayapura,which borders Papua New Guinea. He was a passenger in asmall twin otter plane touching down at Mulia Airport whenthe shooters opened fire on the plane. He died from a bulletwound to his neck

The pilot, co-pilot and a mother andher 4-year-old son were injured in the attack, which saw theaircraft veer off the runway and crash into the terminalbuilding.

"The circumstances of this attack highlight thesituation in which journalists must do their work, and wejoin our colleagues in Indonesia and the InternationalFederation of Journalists, IFJ in urging police to ensurethe perpetrators behind this horrible act are brought tojustice," says PFF chair Titi Gabi, of Papua New Guinea. 

"The safety and security of civilians including journalistsrests on the ability of Police and law enforcers, and isespecially critical during election periods and whenreporting from dangerous or unstable locations."

"Weexpress condolences to the colleagues and family of LeironKegoya, and ask that Papua's police and Indonesia'sleadership ensure this investigation not taper into silence,but that those responsible can be identified and brought tojustice," says PFF co chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.The Pacific Freedom Forum adds its solidarity tocondemnation of the attack from other media networksincluding the national Indonesia media association, AJI, theInternational Federation of Journalists, IFJ, and Reporterswithout Borders, RSF. 

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