NGOs push for more press freedom in Aceh<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
International and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
\nhave demanded that the martial law administrator in Aceh to give
\nthe media the greatest possible access and lift any restrictions
\non journalists reporting on the conflict in the province.<\/p>\n
Freedom of expression has to be upheld so that the public, be
\nthey domestic or foreign audiences, receive an honest report of
\nwhat is happening in Aceh, and to ensure that armed combatants
\nrespect civilians' human rights, they said recently.<\/p>\n
Article 19, a London-based international organization focusing
\non freedom of expression, noticed that there had been several
\ndevelopments that limited the freedom of journalists reporting
\nfrom Aceh since martial law was imposed in the province on May
\n19.<\/p>\n
The latest restriction came from Aceh martial law
\nadministrator Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya, who turned down
\napplications from 10 foreign-based journalists to report from the
\nprovince, stating that there was no need for foreign observers in
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
\"This restriction will inevitably prevent the people of Aceh,
\nIndonesia and the rest of the world, from understanding the
\nconflict issues in the region,\" said Article 19, in a statement
\nmade available to the media.<\/p>\n
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) shared
\nArticle 19's view, and said that any party, including the
\nIndonesia Military (TNI) and the separatist Free Aceh Movement
\n(GAM), should not curb freedom of expression.<\/p>\n
\"All parties have to remember that a free press is vital to
\ndemocracy,\" the IFJ said in a statement sent to the media.<\/p>\n
Authorities have tried to stop most foreigners, including
\njournalists and NGOs, from visiting the province.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, the Aceh Police questioned two Malaysian
\njournalists on suspicion of violating their visas.<\/p>\n
Police said Samsul Akmar and Abdul Razak of the New Straits
\nTimes newspaper were questioned after they reported to police
\nheadquarters.<\/p>\n
Aceh Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Sayed Husaini said the
\njournalists had a one-month short visit visa and police were
\ntrying to determine whether it had been misused.<\/p>\n
\"Did they have permission to carry out journalistic
\nactivities?\" he said to reporters.<\/p>\n
The journalists, who had been in Aceh for about a week, had a
\npress card from the martial law administrator in Aceh and
\npermission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work as
\nreporters, Sayed said.<\/p>\n
All journalists reporting from Aceh are required to get
\naccreditation from the martial law administrator. Some
\njournalists have been interrogated and threatened by security
\nforces due to their reporting of military misconduct.<\/p>\n
Emulating the U.S. and UK media policy in the Iraq war, the
\nTNI has embedded 54 journalists with its forces, although foreign
\nreporters are not admitted.<\/p>\n
The military is giving military training to a second batch of
\njournalists that will be embedded with military troops in Aceh.<\/p>\n
The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), through its
\nchairwoman Ati Nurbaiti, was critical of the program, saying that
\nit could produce bias among journalists, especially those who had
\nbeen told to report on the conflict in Aceh from a \"nationalistic
\nperspective\".<\/p>\n
Besides the restrictions imposed on the media, recent reports
\nof shots being fired at vehicles carrying journalists in Aceh has
\nraised concerns about the safety of reporters in the field.<\/p>\n
The IFJ expressed concern at the deterioration of press
\nfreedom and safety of journalists in Aceh, and called on all
\nparties, including President Megawati Soekarnoputri, commanders
\nof GAM and the TNI, to respect the independent role of the media.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ngos-push-for-more-press-freedom-in-aceh-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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