Journalist's mission<\/p>\n
From Warta Kota<\/p>\n
There have recently been two violent incidents involving the
\npolice and on-duty journalists, in particular photographers as
\nwell as television cameramen: (1) cameramen were threatened by
\nthe police at the Atma Jaya university campus, Jakarta, on the
\nevening of March 12 when several cars were damaged in a clash,
\nand (2) the police threatened journalists and photographers who
\nwere covering a clash occurring near the regional office of the
\nGolkar Party in Cikini, Jakarta, on March 13.<\/p>\n
As a retired journalist, I would like to express my concern as
\nwell as to make the following appeal to the public at large and
\nthe police:<\/p>\n
The job or mission of a true journalist or reporter includes
\nthe recording of events in writing or in pictures and then
\npublicizing them.<\/p>\n
In carrying out their duties, journalists are provided with
\nand let themselves be guided by the journalistic code of ethics
\nand other rules. Like the police officers on duty, the
\njournalists on duty (to fulfill the demand for and right to
\ninformation), are protected by the law. And like any other
\nemployees carrying out their work, the work of journalists is
\ngoverned by written regulations and conventions.<\/p>\n
Accordingly, threatening let alone acting violently against
\njournalists is exactly the same as threatening the public at
\nlarge, and is a violation of the law and, at the same time, the
\nUN's Declaration of Human Rights.<\/p>\n
Law enforcement officials should immediately put an end to
\ntheir practice of breaking the law. Likewise, activists who are
\nstaging rallies and at the same time threaten journalists, should
\nrealize that their attitude to journalists is the same as killing
\ndemocracy.<\/p>\n
EDDY S. PERMANA<\/p>\n
Depok, West Java<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/journalists-mission-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }