Gov’t Gradually Restores Internet Access in Papua, West Papua

Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara accompanied by a number of high-ranking officials in an Editor in Chiefs Forum, at the Ministry’s Headquarters, Jakarta, Tuesday (3/9). (Photo by: Antara)

Although restoring Internet access in practice will only take hours, the process in Papua and West Papua provinces must be made gradually to stop the spread of hoaxes and provocations, according to Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara.

“When the situation escalates, Internet access restriction can also be in place within hours,” Rudiantara said in an Editor in Chiefs Forum at the Ministry’s Headquarters, Jakarta, Tuesday (3/9).

The Minister added that Internet access restriction including to social media and instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram will be recovered gradually.

“We are coordinating the latest situation on the ground with relevant officers assigned in 29 regencies/cities in Papua, and approximately 13 regencies/cities in West Papua,” Rudiantara said.

According to the Minister, Internet access restriction in Papua and West Papua will only be imposed to regencies and cities that have not recovered from protests, while the restriction will be lifted for regencies and cities considered to have been in a better condition.

As of 2 September 2019, the Ministry, he added, has identified 555,000 URLs or channels that spread hoaxes. “Approximately 100,000 first accounts have uploaded hoaxes,” he said. Therefore, the Minister called on the public, particularly netizens, not to distribute hoaxes about Papua and West Papua. (Coordinating Ministry Political, Legal, and Security Affairs PR/ES)

Translated by : Rany Anjany Subachrum
Edited by : M. Ersan Pamungkas