30 July 2010
Ardiansyah Matra’is
Other non-natural
A search team in West Papua, Indonesia, found the body of local reporter Ardiansyah Matra’is, in a river, two days after the journalist had been reported missing.
Matra’is was found naked and handcuffed, according to Radio New Zealand International. Matra’is, a reporter for local broadcaster Merauke TV, had received several text messages over the previous week in the run up to local elections, according to Indonesian news reports. The journalist, who had worked as a stringer for TV station Anteve and as a reporter for Papua’s Rajawali daily before joining Merauke TV, had been reported missing since 28 July, when local residents found his motorcycle and helmet near a bridge in Merauke, a small town in Papua.
A number of other local journalists had also complained to the police about receiving threatening text messages, local police said. According to the Jakarta Globe, one of the threatening text messages read: “To cowardly journalists, never play with fire if you don't want to be burned. If you still want to make a living on this land, don’t do weird things. We have data on all of you and be prepared for death.” The cause of Matra’is’ death has yet to be determined; local newspapers report that the family has been reluctant to have an autopsy performed. Local police are investigating.
