Indonesia deports 2 French journalists from Papua province

Indonesia has deported two French journalists for committing visa violations while shooting a documentary film in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua.

Immigration office spokesman Agung Sampurno said Sunday the journalists, Jean Frank Pierre and Basille Marie Longhamp, were sent home Friday through Mozes Kilangin airport in Timika.

The journalists carried out coverage from the air but had ordinary visas without necessary documents from related institutions, Sampurno said today.

He quoted local immigration chief Jesaya Samuel Enock as saying the journalists' activities were appropriate as they were sponsored by the national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia but lacked coordination with related institutions.

Local media reported Pierre and Longhamp were taken into custody when they were about to take pictures of Cartenz areas using a helicopter.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)