Jayapura, Jubi – Theo Kelen and Maurits Yansip have been elected chair and secretary of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Jayapura City for the 2026-2029 term. Kelen is a journalist from Jubi, while Yansip is a video editor at Jubi TV.
They replace the 2023-2026 leadership, led by Lucky Ireeuw as chair and Anang Budiono as secretary.
Theo Kelen and Maurits Yansip were elected during AJI Jayapura’s city conference (Konferta) held in the Jalan Baru area of Youtefa, Abepura District, Jayapura City, on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
The election was witnessed by AJI Indonesia Secretary-General Bayu Wardhana, who expressed hope that the new AJI Jayapura City leadership would strengthen the organisation’s activities and programmes across Papua, including West Papua, Southwest Papua, South Papua, Central Papua and Highland Papua.
Bayu said AJI Indonesia was ready to support programmes undertaken by AJI Jayapura City to strengthen press freedom and independent media in Papua.
The conference also approved the establishment of an AJI Jayapura City Bureau in Merauke.
“The establishment of the AJI Merauke Bureau is based on a decree issued by AJI Jayapura City. It will later become a preparatory AJI chapter once its membership reaches 15,” Bayu told Jubi on the sidelines of the AJI Jayapura City leadership election.
He said that, in addition to the Merauke Bureau, a Sorong Bureau could also be established based on the needs and agreement of the new AJI Jayapura City leadership, through an official decree.
Meanwhile, newly elected AJI Jayapura City Chair Theo Kelen said press freedom and journalists’ safety remained major challenges for journalists working in Papua.
“In addition to threats to press freedom, the vast coverage area and high operational costs are also challenges faced by journalists,” Kelen said.
He said collaboration was essential to jointly promote and strengthen journalism across Papua.
Kelen added that improving journalists’ skills through training should also be a priority for the new leadership, particularly in responding to developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and the spread of disinformation.
He also said AJI Jayapura City did not yet have a secretariat office where members and board representatives could gather to develop work programmes and organise activities.
“However, the new leadership’s work programmes have not yet been formulated in detail, as we are still waiting for the organisational structure to be established,” he said.
Meanwhile, former AJI Jayapura City chair for two consecutive terms, Lucky Ireeuw, said membership fees had not been collected consistently.
“I hope everything will run smoothly under the new leadership to support AJI Jayapura City’s work programmes in the years ahead,” said Ireeuw, who is also the editor-in-chief of Cendrawasih Pos newspaper. (*)
