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<p>President Jokowi made clear his intention to allow free access for foreign journalists
to Papua when he announced the lifting of the ban in May 2015. A number of foreign
journalists have since gained access to report on the region. Unfortunately it seems
some elements of the Government have been slow to respond to President Jokowi’s wishes.
We continue to receive reports that journalists face difficulties in securing visas
and restrictions on free reporting.</p><p>In January 2018, I raised my concern on
this issue with the Indonesian ambassador to London, and officials in Indonesia also
raised this when they visited Papua in February 2019. The Minister of State for Asia
and the Pacific acknowledged at a Westminster Hall Debate on 8 May 2019 that transparency
and media access are important. We continue to encourage Indonesian journalists to
write openly and frankly about Papua to ensure that local perspectives are properly
heard and are part of any debate.</p><p>Our Embassy in Jakarta is very active in promoting
press freedom. To mark World Press Freedom Day on 3 May 2019 the Embassy arranged
a full programme of activities to celebrate the work of journalists, media organisations
and regulators. Indonesia will also be invited to the global Media Freedoms event
in July, which the UK is co-hosting with Canada, which will promote the importance
of media freedom and aim to adopt a more co-ordinated approach to securing the safety
of media professionals.</p>
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