"Indonesian organizations condemn arrest of Mongabay environmental journalist", 22 January 2020

The Alliance of Independent Journalist (AJI), the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) and the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) are denouncing the arrest of American environmental journalist Philip Jacobson, who has been detained in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, for allegedly violating visa restrictions.

Jacobson, who works for environmental science and conservation news portal Mongabay...was arrested...because of misuse of his residency permit...

On Dec. 16, Jacobson attended a hearing between the Central Kalimantan Regional Legislative Council and the local chapter of the AMAN.

"[On Dec. 17,] Jacobson was scheduled on a flight out of Palangkaraya, but before he could leave for the airport, immigration officers went to his guesthouse and confiscated his passport," Mongabay said...adding that the immigration officers then asked Jacobson to remain in the city while they continued their investigation. "On Jan. 21, more than a month later, Jacobson was formally arrested and taken into custody."

Although the immigration office stated that Jacobson was arrested because of visa problems, Manan said he believes that his arrest has something to do with his journalistic activities, since Jacobson planned to write a story on an agrarian dispute between a local indigenous community and a corporation...

...Jacobson has been in Central Kalimantan since mid-December...Jacobson was coordinating with Mongabay journalists in Palangkaraya regarding his plan to write an article about the agrarian dispute...