PBI on the Death of Papuan Journalist

Report from Emmet O'Malley
Project Coordinator, Peace Brigades International - Indonesia Project

The Peace Brigades International Indonesia Project is saddened to inform you that Adriansyah Matrais a member of Foker (Forum Kerja Lembaga Sosial Masyarakat, NGO working forum) has died under suspicious circumstances.

Adriansyah worked as a journalist for the Foker bi-weekly tabloid JUBI (Jujur Bicara, Honest Talk) and Merauke TV. He was initially declared missing in Merauke Regency, Papua Province on 28 July when his motorbike and helmet were found on a bridge near the River Maro. On 30 June the naked and handcuffed body of Adriansyah was discovered in the Gudang Arang River.

In March 2010, PBI was contacted by Foker in regards to security concerns they had for their employee Adriansyah. In the 11 March bi-weekly update Peace Brigades International brought these concerns to the attention of its support network. Peace Brigades International also agreed to monitor his security situation by offering weekly check in calls and protectiv accompaniment until Adriansyah felt secure.

In an attempt to reduce the level of threats and improve the personal security situation of Adriansyah, Pak Septer from Foker advised Adriansyah to cease his investigations in Jayapura Regency, Papua Province and return to his home in Merauke Regency, Papua Province.

During this period of increased intimidation, Adriansyah had been investigating financial irregularities in funding for improvements in Mandala Stadium (Jayapura Regency, Papua Province), in the plans to build a bridge over Yotefa Bay as part of a ring road for Jayapura (Jayapura Regency, Papua Province) and in the provision of electricity to Enggros Island (Jayapura Regency, Papua Province), as well as following up on unresolved human rights cases in Papua and investigating illegal logging in Keeron District, Papua Province.

In the week before the disappearance Adriansyah had become increasingly paranoid about his personal movements, according to his wife Wulistilahwati.

PBI will continue to monitor the situation and release updates concerning any developments in the case.