Govt denies barring journalist

Govt denies barring journalist

JAKARTA (JP): The government denied press reports yesterday that it has barred a senior journalist of the Sydney Morning Herald from entering Indonesia.

Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Sabam Siagian told The Jakarta Post that David Jenkins had obtained a visa from the Indonesian consulate in Sydney especially to cover last month's Asia-Africa Conference anniversary in Bandung.

"He obtained permission to attend the gathering but he did not go. Instead, he intends to visit Indonesia now to cover the visit of Governor General Bill Hayden," Siagian said.

UPI reported yesterday that Jenkins, the Herald's Asia editor, was banned from entering Indonesia despite having been issued a five-week visa.

The news agency quoted a spokesman for the Herald as saying that no reason was given for the ban, which came after Jenkins' visa was issued.

Jenkins last came to Indonesia in November last year to report on the meeting of leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

Jenkins was banned from Indonesia in 1984 after the publication of his book on Soeharto and the military. In 1986 he wrote an article in the Herald on the business activities of President Soeharto's family.

He was a former Jakarta correspondent for the Herald and the Far Eastern Economic Review. (pwn)