JP\/1\/MEDIA<\/p>\n
RI defends stance on Australian correspondent<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia defended on Monday its move not to renew an Australian
\ncorrespondent's journalist visa, insisting that the decision was
\nmerely based on a "technical consular matter" and was in no way a
\nharbinger to stricter control of foreign media here.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian foreign ministry lamented in a statement the
\npresentation of the events that unfolded involving the Sydney
\nMorning Herald and The Age correspondent Lindsay Murdoch, saying
\nthat it was misrepresentation of the facts.<\/p>\n
It regretted a joint statement issued by two Australian
\nnewspapers which "exaggerated and overpoliticized" an issue which
\nwas "truly technical in nature".<\/p>\n
"The Indonesian government trusts that this misrepresentation
\nof facts will not influence public trust, both international and
\ndomestic, on the strong desire and political commitment of the
\ngovernment and the people of Indonesia to guarantee press
\nfreedom."<\/p>\n
The government, through the foreign ministry, refused to
\nfurther extend Murdoch's visa which initially expired on March
\n10, effectively rendering his ability to work as a journalist
\nhere void.<\/p>\n
Murdoch, 48, worked for here three years. His visa initially
\nexpired on Dec. 10 and was extended for three months.<\/p>\n
The two publications he works for claim the move was due to
\nMurdoch's "authoritative reporting", a suggestion which has been
\ncountered by the foreign ministry.<\/p>\n
Jakarta says that there had been an understanding with
\nFairfax, publisher of the two newspapers, in December that a new
\ncorrespondent would sent and the three-month extension was to
\naccommodate the arrival of the journalist to be based here.<\/p>\n
Speaking to The Jakarta Post, foreign ministry spokesman Marty
\nNatalegawa stressed that the issue was in no way related to an
\neditorial matter.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that Murdoch had not been banned from Indonesia
\nand had in fact returned here on a business visa.<\/p>\n
Marty said that while "we may disagree on many of the things
\nhe has written" as long as it is accurate and heeds to
\njournalistic ethics it is still acceptable.<\/p>\n
He brushed off suggestions of tight media scrutiny, both of
\nforeign correspondents and local reporters, saying that it was in
\nIndonesia's best interests to maintain coverage. Both newspapers
\nare free to nominate a new correspondent here.<\/p>\n
But the government has resisted revealing the reason for the
\ndecision.<\/p>\n
The lack of transparency has been further affirmed by defiant
\nremarks that "there is no obligation for any country to explain
\nthe reasons for issuing or not issuing a visa".<\/p>\n
Still it is of little comfort to local and foreign journalists
\nwhen the government can take excessive measures against the press
\nwithout transparent grounds.<\/p>\n
Sources have suggested that the decision, which was taken by
\nan interdepartmental committee, was influenced by military
\nelements who were upset with Murdoch.<\/p>\n
International media watchdog Reporters San Frontiers was one
\nof those who suggested on Monday that this was "the first
\nevidence" that elements of the military were pressuring the
\ngovernment to crack down on press freedom.<\/p>\n
"We hope it will be the first and the last case," Vincent
\nBrossel of the Paris-based group said as quoted by AFP.<\/p>\n
Editorial -- Page 4<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp1media-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }