Antara News, By Vicki Febrianto, Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian press was given the hardest reprimand ever by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
"The president has often talked about the press and its role. But this time, I think, this is the hardest ever reprimand from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to the press because he has used such words," said Wina Armada, member of the Press Council on Wednesday.
Wina was referring to the statement by President Yudhoyono in a radio interview earlier in the day where he asked the media in Indonesia to convey balanced information to the public on both the successes and failures of his government so as not to confuse the people.
"If the government is said to be all failed, bad and should withdraw, as if there nothing was good, this is a poison. On the other way, if the government is always reported all that good, this is not good either," President Yudhoyono told a private radio station in Jakarta, on Wednesday.
The government will accept whatever criticism the public voices , the president said, as long as the press reports were balanced. This influence the government to take actions on improving the results that have not been reached, he pointed out.
In response to a question on what he thought about the critiques on his government through mass media and the press, Yudhoyono stressed that such a thing was quite normal and had been faced by all the governments before his, from Soekarno to Megawati Soekarnoputri.
"What is important for political education, the truth is conveyed in a balanced manner, if it is good, say so and what is not yet good, say it is not yet good. This way will enable the real truth in this country," the President said, adding that the press could adjust the situation by internally.
The Indonesian president made the radio remarks on the first anniversary of his second term in power, as he was reelected to second term through a landslide victory in election last year and taken his oath of office on October 20, 2010. Some elements of public in Jakarta have been critical of his government, saying that there had been nothing good during his first year in power.
Ethical press
According to Wina, the press had currently been working in accordance with the content of Chapter 1 of the Press Code of Ethics, namely on the principles of accuracy, balanced reportage and without malice. News on the President has basically be proportional, said Wina, former secretary general of the Indonesia Journalists Association (PWI).
"I think the President has somehow enjoyed the benefits from the reports on him that disseminated by the press, especially during the last presidential election and even in the previous election," Wina pointed out.
He admitted that there have been those who were pro and against the government among the press circle but they also remained on the track of good ethical code. Thus, should the current freedom of the press is considered already excessive, this idea is incorrect because Indonesia rank of press freedom has somewhat declined.
Confusion among the public, he added, has not been caused by news from the press but more from the policies of the government itself. Despite the fact, the public nowadays has already been smart and will not easily believe in unethical or malicious news.
Wina revealed that a meeting between the President and the Press Council was actually scheduled to take place on Wednesday (October 20) but then dropped because (the President) was said to have another more urgent work to do. Should the meeting have taken place, then it must have been quite a good momentum for the President and the Council to talk.
Freedom index
Global journalists association, Reporters Sans Frontiers, in its annual report on world press freedom index for 2010 indicates that Indonesia had dropped from 101 in 2009 to 117 with freedom score of 35.83. This is the lowest position Indonesia has been, especially when compared with the rank of around 50 in 2002-2005.
The Indonesian press even is lower in press freedom than small countries such as Timor Leste (94), Mauritania (95) and Kuwait (86). Even Indonesia is still under African countries, Kenya (74), Nigeria (106) and Djibouti (110).
The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), an Indonesian independent journalists association, in a report last August says that from August 2009 to August 2010, it documented 40 cases of violence against journalists. Compared to last year`s 38 cases, it is clear this year shows an increase in the number of cases.
Threat and intimidation are rampant in Indonesian journalism. This year, there are 8 cases of threat and intimidation. Threat is commonly expressed by mass organization (3 cases), politician and unknown individuals (both 2 cases). One case is conducted by crowd.
Reporting prohibition or censorship occur 6 times, all are done by local government officials including personnel from local hospitals.
Legal repression in terms of criminalization or defamation civil suit, or witness subpoena occur 5 times. Perpetrators are members of the police (3 cases), politician and private citizen (one case each). Confiscation of equipment occurs four times - done by bureaucrats, private security personnel, members of mass organizations and unknown individuals, one case each.
Related Articles:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.