Media told to support operation<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Pressure is mounting on the Indonesian media to support the
\nmilitary offensive against the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), with the
\ngovernment insisting that national integrity should come before
\npress freedom.<\/p>\n
Asking the media to develop what he called patriotic
\njournalism, State Minister of Communications and Information
\nSyamsul Mu'arif told journalists on Thursday not to give media
\nspace to the separatists.<\/p>\n
Syamsul said information coming from GAM \"always contains
\ninsinuation and psywar\" with questionable accuracy and motives.<\/p>\n
\"We ask the media to be wise. Frankly, publishing statements
\nfrom GAM will only hamper the (military) operation and alienate
\nthe TNI from the people,\" he said, referring to the Indonesian
\nMilitary.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged the efforts of Indonesian media in covering
\nboth sides during the operation to quell Acehnese rebels, but
\nclaimed that the principle was not relevant in the event of
\nseparatism.<\/p>\n
\"Covering both sides is aimed at developing objectivity. But
\nwhen it comes to separatism, it (the principle) might be
\ndamaging,\" he asserted.<\/p>\n
The government has imposed martial law in Aceh, giving the
\nmilitary extraordinary powers that allow it to, among other
\nthings, restrict the press or to go as far as order a news
\nblackout. A few days after martial law took effect, the
\nadministrator of martial law in Aceh instructed the media in the
\nprovince not to quote statements from GAM.<\/p>\n
Almost two weeks since the military operation began in the
\nprovince, the Indonesian media appears to have complied with the
\ninstruction.<\/p>\n
Syamsul hailed the way the Indonesian media was covering the
\nmilitary operation in Aceh, but noticed \"negative information
\nwhich is based on unreliable sources\".<\/p>\n
Press freedom has been put to the test after the TNI disclosed
\na plan to sue Koran Tempo daily and AFP news agency for reporting
\nthe deaths of civilians at the hands of TNI troops in the regency
\nof Bireuen last week. The decision came after the TNI conducted
\nan investigation to verify the report.<\/p>\n
Later in the day, Syamsul attended a closed-door meeting
\nhosted by TNI Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto with media chief
\neditors.<\/p>\n
Like Syamsul, Endriartono reminded the media to work \"within
\nthe framework of the unitary state of Indonesia\".<\/p>\n
\"In solving the Aceh case, public support plays a major role.
\nIf Indonesian media report news coming from GAM, we should
\nquestion the depth of their nationalism,\" he told reporters after
\nthe meeting.<\/p>\n
In a bid to secure international support in the Aceh conflict,
\nSyamsul said the government planned to hire an international
\npublic relations firm.<\/p>\n
\"We are weak in international public relations as foreign
\npress coverage on Aceh has been giving a negative impression of
\nthe operation in Aceh,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Yasril Ananta Baharudin, a member of the House of
\nRepresentatives' information and foreign affairs commission, said
\nthe government had failed to gain public support for the
\nintegrated operation in Aceh.<\/p>\n
He suggested that the government emulate the United States,
\nwhich set up media centers to sway public opinion during its
\nattack on Iraq.<\/p>\n
Another legislator representing the TNI, Maj. Gen. Slamet
\nSupriyadi, urged the Indonesian media to make national interests
\na priority.<\/p>\n
\"There should be no 'cover both sides' for the sake of
\nnational interests,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/media-told-to-support-operation-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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