`Can't people be more civilized?'<\/p>\n
On Saturday some 200 henchmen attacked the Tempo office in
\nCentral Jakarta due to anger over an article in the magazine.
\nThis is part of a series of mob attacks on the media that have
\nbeen reported since 2000. The use of intimidation and violence
\nagainst members of the press has sparked condemnation from the
\njournalist community. The Jakarta Post asked some people for
\ntheir opinion in response to the violence.<\/p>\n
Wasroni, 67, a refuse recycler residing in Jakarta. His wife
\nand two children live in Pekalongan, Central Java:<\/p>\n
I don't like violence against journalists. In my opinion,
\njournalists, in general, are innocent. They just search for
\ninformation.<\/p>\n
I admit that I'm ignorant but I know of many things that are
\nhappening in the city and the country because of information
\nprovided by the newspaper. I never had a formal education, but I
\nhave been learning to read by years of studying the newspaper.
\nHow can I understand the recent situation in the country if I
\ndon't read newspapers or magazines.<\/p>\n
I hope it doesn't sound like nonsense, but truly I respect
\njournalists. I realize that journalists struggle hard to side
\nwith homeless people like me. I feel that they often fight for
\nthe poor.<\/p>\n
Without the press, we would not know how the government
\nperforms their daily duties, or how far the government sides with
\nthe people.<\/p>\n
I'm of the opinion that nobody should assault any journalist
\nfor any reason because they are sources of information to the
\npeople. I hate such violence.<\/p>\n
I remember that Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, told the
\npeople to respect journalists. I saw for myself, when a
\njournalist was welcomed in my village and he was carried on
\npeople's shoulders. However, former President Soeharto totally
\nchanged press freedoms and attitudes toward the press.<\/p>\n
Upon observing the Tempo attack, I think the media is not
\nguilty at all. It is the mastermind behind the attack that should
\nbe blamed.<\/p>\n
I can't see why those protesters were acting that harsh in
\nresponding to a story. There must be a more civilized way to
\nreconcile with each other, I think. Why don't they see that the
\njournalists always struggle for the low income people like them?<\/p>\n
Katiran, 30, a cigarette vendor that resides in the Roxy area
\nwith his fellow vendors. His wife and son live in East Java:<\/p>\n
I take pity on the journalists who always do something good
\nfor people but yet always become victims of violence.<\/p>\n
Personally, I like journalists because they help us a lot by
\nproviding useful information.<\/p>\n
In my opinion, journalists from all types of media are not
\nguilty, but why are they treated inappropriately by the
\ngovernment apparatus and their angry mobs? They just do their
\njobs in a professional manner to get information out to the
\npublic.<\/p>\n
I even feel that the low income people like me should show
\nthem deep gratitude because they always fight for poor peoples'
\ninterests.<\/p>\n
They don't deserve any sort of brutality, I'm sure. Poor
\njournalists!<\/p>\n
Johnson Panjaitan, 39, a lawyer for the Indonesian Legal aid
\nand Human Rights Association. He resides in Tangerang, Banten
\nwith his wife and son:<\/p>\n
I'm very concerned about the recent incidents of brutality
\nagainst the media.<\/p>\n
I think the violence is becoming more systematic. The
\ndispleased party will easily threaten or intimidate not only the
\nreporters but also the media company owners.<\/p>\n
I think that the rampant violence against journalists is due
\nin large part to impotent law enforcement. The police didn't have
\nthe courage or didn't care to take serious measures to stop the
\nrecent attack at Tempo magazine.<\/p>\n
They are inclined to side with the violators, if I may say.
\nWorse, they even become part of the mob violence, as they
\nfrequently have beaten journalists also.<\/p>\n
I think the city police are also abused by these uncivilized
\nmobs. I heard that some of the attackers were just mocking the
\nriot police for being impotent, probably because the mob's boss
\nhad bribed certain officials.<\/p>\n
You can see how the police now have lost their power,
\ncredibility and authoritative bearing because they are getting
\nbought off by certain people any time someone with enough money
\nto hire thugs feels insulted.<\/p>\n
I'm sure that intimidation and violence against press freedoms
\nwill start to destroy democracy and the public's right to
\ninformation.<\/p>\n
I don't see any easy solution to the violence against the
\npress here. Only when the police are free of corrupt officers and
\nthe government has the intelligence and the will to stop it, will
\nit get better. There needs to be respect for the existing press
\nfreedom in our society.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cant-people-be-more-civilized-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }