The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) of Indonesia issued a call for accessibility and safety of journalists after four Dutch reporters were arrested and detained for 12 hours on 24 March 2009 in Papua province.

In its statement, AJI said, "Restriction of information infringes on the right of the international community for information. It also impedes the right of the Papuan people to be heard in the international stage."

The journalists were identified as Babbete Nienel, Peter Mariow Smith, and Ronald Wigman from Channel NRC TV. The fourth reporter is Jakarta-based Elske Schouten of Dutch newspaper "NRC Handelsblad".

They were arrested upon arrival in the city of Jayapura. The journalists were supposed to cover the arrival from exile of Free Papua Organisation leader, Nikolaus Jouwe. Jouwe had been in exile in the Netherlands for 40 years.

AJI in a statement said it views the arrests as "a form of hindrance to journalistic work." It added that the government, in this case, the immigration office, should not hinder the people's right to know.

The province of Papua, where Jayapura is located, has been known as a "forbidden zone for journalists," AJI said, with the result that the flow of information from the province is very limited.