Probe killing of Indonesian journalist,
SEAPA urges Jakarta

THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN Press Alliance (SEAPA) has called on the Indonesian government to investigate the death of a local journalist who was killed while on a commercial flight in Indonesian Papua.

In a statement, the regional network of media organizations said local journalist Leiron Kogoya was on board a Tripura Air flight that was landing at the Mulia airport when unidentified men opened fire on the aircraft.

One of the bullets pierced the neck of Kogoya, killing him. Four others were injured when the aircraft lost control as a result of the shooting and crashed into an airport building.

Kogoya is a journalist o fthe Papua Pos Nabire, a local newspaper. Local media organizations said it was apparent that Kogoya was not the target of the attack. Kagoya was in Puncak Jaya to cover the regional elections there.

However, SEAPA Executive Director Gayathry Venkiteswaran said the incident highlights the “vulnerability of journalists working in conflict areas like Papua.” She said the danger comes from both the contending political parties, as well as the “general lawlessness” in the conflict area.

“The shooting of the Trigura Air plane may indicate a heightened brazenness of such attackers as those previous similar incidents have remained unsolved,” she said in a statement.

SEAPA also noted that two other journalists have been killedin Papua in the line of duty since August 2010.

“SEAPA calls on Indonesian authorities to pursue the attackers of the plane, and bring the perpetrators to justice,” she said in a statement. ” Effective measures must also be taken to protect civilians, including journalists, against such attacks.”