Caught between tragedy and propaganda<\/p>\n
Emmy Fitri, Jakarta<\/p>\n
What is the role of the media in the devastation in Aceh?<\/p>\n
There is no doubt that the media has shown us the dramatic
\nrealities of the tragedy, prompting a global relief effort unseen
\nsince World War II.<\/p>\n
But when interests shift from humanitarian relief to politics,
\nthe media becomes an ideal vehicle for political-laden
\npropaganda, such as the sort of items that are even now thrust
\nbefore us. No longer is the media a conduit to mirror suffering,
\nit has transformed itself into an agent of dogma.<\/p>\n
Headlines in local media would take a different tone
\naltogether if the tragedy hit -- God forbid -- the coast of Java.<\/p>\n
Aceh has been in a state of siege since 1976, when the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) launched military operations to combat
\nseparatist (known as GAM) sentiments.<\/p>\n
Less than a fortnight after the Dec. 26 tsunami, local
\nheadlines were already moving away from human-interest features
\nto political discourses about rebels and the state of emergency
\nin the province. It may have been caused by a glut of sob stories
\nand the simple demand for something \"new\", but the scent of news
\nmanipulation has also been detectable.<\/p>\n
Learning from the media in Iraq, Jakarta radio stations are
\nalready reading verbatim press releases of separatist incursions
\nand how soldiers have had to engage rebels blocking off aid
\nworkers.<\/p>\n
Press releases are dubious by nature -- especially those from
\nthe TNI -- and journalistic ethics requires double-checking. But
\nthe magnitude of the tsunami may have prompted some media to move
\nahead with news items based on \"the benefit of the doubt\", or
\nperhaps \"the benefit of fear\".<\/p>\n
At a time when the focus must be on aid, it is sad that the
\nTNI -- negating its own good work in relief operations in Aceh --
\nhas emphasized the need for continued offensive operations by
\npatrolling high-ground rebel areas untouched by the tsunami.<\/p>\n
Looting, the interdiction of aid convoys and the dangers faced
\nby civilian volunteers have been cited by the TNI. All,
\n\"surprisingly\", have rarely been corroborated by returning
\nindependent volunteers.<\/p>\n
Amid the hardships suffered by people in Aceh, an Army general
\neven claimed that at least 34 skirmishes with rebel forces had
\ntaken place since the tsunami struck.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's most popular news portal Detik.com on Jan. 11
\nquoted that general as saying that operations should continue
\nsince separatists were intent on ambushing aid convoys and
\ninfiltrating refugee shelters.<\/p>\n
Maybe Internet journalism does not conform to the same
\nstandards as other media -- not that print journalism has been a
\nglowing example of good reporting either during this period --
\nbut the failure to verify these statements as fact and the
\nambitious move to print such items as truth is astounding.<\/p>\n
Strong investigative journalism could well prove many of the
\nclaims made by the TNI so far as less than accurate. Nevertheless
\nwe hear little of this, defiance is limited to internet blogs and
\nprivate mail lists.<\/p>\n
Such is the pervading sentiment of the GAM threat that even
\nAustralian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, as reported by AFP,
\nexpressed the fear that Australian aid workers could get caught
\nin a crossfire between the TNI and rebels.<\/p>\n
This is a critical period when people hope not only for \"good
\nnews\" from Aceh, but expect \"good reporting\". Getting aid to the
\ntsunami victims is hard enough, it should not be bogged down
\nfurther by a political agenda.<\/p>\n
While it should take responsibility, the media is not solely
\nto blame for the angling of Aceh from a stage of humanitarian
\ncrisis to an arena of conflict.<\/p>\n
The TNI may well feel increasingly insecure about the
\nincomparable effective works of foreign troops in Aceh compared
\nto its own shadowy past in the province.<\/p>\n
While the attitude of the TNI or the government cannot
\nimmediately be rectified, the \"independent\" media must firmly
\nadhere to professional principles and remain neutral.<\/p>\n
Something is wrong with our understanding of humanity when we
\n-- the media, the TNI, the government and the general public --
\naccept the exploitation of a humanitarian crisis for political
\ninterests.<\/p>\n
In the age of dogma and despot, it was \"patriotic\" to swallow
\npropaganda whole. But, in the new republic, the public's --
\nespecially the media's -- paramount loyalty is to the truth.<\/p>\n
To swerve from that allegiance would surely mean the sword has
\nbecome mightier than the pen.<\/p>",
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