'Extra insurance for war journalists is a must'<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Major Indonesian media outlets said on Friday that they were
\nobligated to provide extra insurance cover for journalists
\ncovering war and conflict zones, such as Nanggroe Aceh
\nDarussalam, as part of their responsibility for the journalists'
\nsafety.<\/p>\n
The Kompas daily, and RCTI and TVRI TV stations, said they all
\nhad taken out additional insurance cover for their journalists
\ncovering the Indonesian Military (TNI) operation against the
\nseparatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Aceh province.<\/p>\n
"Life insurance, accident insurance and disability insurance
\nare all included in the insurance cover we provide for our
\nreporters when covering war or conflict zones. This is separate
\nfrom the insurance cover for journalists when performing their
\neveryday duties," said Taufik H. Mihardja, the deputy managing
\neditor of Kompas.<\/p>\n
Kompas' remuneration and welfare manager Purwanto said war
\ninsurance cover had been provided by his company since 1984.<\/p>\n
"Since then, we have sent over 60 journalists to conflict and
\nwar zones," he said, but admitted he did not remember the exact
\nlocations of the conflicts.<\/p>\n
For the war in Aceh, Purwanto said, his company had to pay
\ninsurance premiums to a local insurance firm of Rp 2.3 million
\n(US$264,000) per month per journalist covering the war in the
\ncountry's westernmost province.<\/p>\n
In return, the insurance firm would pay compensation of Rp 75
\nmillion to the journalist's family through Kompas if he or she
\ndied while covering the war, according to Purwanto.<\/p>\n
If the journalist lost the use of his right arm, he would be
\ncompensated to the tune of 70 percent of the Rp 75 million, he
\nsaid, noting that there were many other clauses covering
\ncompensation for other injuries.<\/p>\n
Taufik said Kompas had sent five journalists to cover the
\ncurrent war in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Besides the extra insurance, the journalists covering the war
\nin Aceh have also been provided with equipment to help protect
\nthem from gunshot wounds, he said.<\/p>\n
Since the outbreak of the most recent hostilities in Aceh, a
\nTVRI cameraman was mysteriously killed. His body was found on
\nJune 17.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, two RCTI journalists are currently being held
\nhostage by GAM.<\/p>\n
A number of journalists were also captured by GAM recently,
\nbut they were released several hours later following the arrival
\nof TNI patrols.<\/p>\n
The incidents have heightened fears over the safety of
\njournalists covering the military operation in Aceh, which
\nstarted on May 19.<\/p>\n
RCTI report manager Denny Reksa and TVRI human resources
\ndirector Yasirwan Uyun said that their companies had also taken
\nout additional insurance cover.<\/p>\n
"We have a special war insurance scheme that is separate from
\nJamsostek insurance and Jasa Raharja insurance," Denny said.
\n"That's our standard procedure for covering war and conflict
\nareas."<\/p>\n
He refused, however, to disclose the amount of compensation
\nthat would be paid in respect of the death or injury of a
\njournalist by the insurance firm.<\/p>\n
Besides insurance for TV crews, RCTI has also taken out
\ninsurance on all TV equipment sent to Aceh, he said.<\/p>\n
At present, RCTI has 10 journalists and crew members in Aceh,
\nincluding the two missing journalists.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/extra-insurance-for-war-journalists-is-a-must-1447893297",
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