Observer warns of partisan media groups<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): According to journalists and election observers
\nhere, unethical reporting during the election process will be an
\nobstacle to democracy and devalue the elections.<\/p>\n
In talks on Saturday, political scholar Andi A. Mallarangeng
\nsaid the \"partisan\" media groups common at present -- which tend
\nto give sensationalist and biased reports, as many are linked to
\npolitical parties -- would contribute to chaos and confusion
\namong prospective voters.<\/p>\n
He said mainstream media groups should work together to
\nbalance such confusion.<\/p>\n
\"We should help people avoid confusion to enable them to be
\nmore selective,\" Andi told the forum.<\/p>\n
Apart from the media having a role as poll monitor, he said,
\nstudents were also seen as having a potential balancing effect on
\nthe election process. However, Andi cited the difficulties faced
\nby poll monitoring networks in recruiting students for their
\nprograms.<\/p>\n
Some university students have said they will not support the
\nelections by monitoring them, claiming that the current
\ngovernment, as a remnant of the New Order regime, is
\nillegitimate, and therefore so are any elections held under this
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
In the first day of the two-day talks here on the role of
\njournalists in the elections, chief editor of The Jakarta Post
\nSusanto Pudjomartono warned there were only about 12,000
\nreporters across the country.<\/p>\n
These reporters would have to be particularly watchful for
\ncheating in the polls. The practice of distorting democracy is
\nexpected to continue from past elections, despite new rules to
\ncontrol it.<\/p>\n
\"Three crucial stages to be observed are voter registration,
\nballot counting and the process of selecting future legislators,\"
\nSusanto said.<\/p>\n
Another speaker, president of the Thailand Reporters
\nAssociation Kavi Chongkittavorn, made suggestions based on
\nThailand's 66 years of experience covering 20 elections.<\/p>\n
Indonesian journalists, he said as an example, must be able to
\ngauge and describe the candidates for the legislature and
\npresidency, which will be submitted by dozens of parties.<\/p>\n
\"Pinpointing party platforms would help the voters make their
\ndecisions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Among the organizers of the talks were the Asia Forum, Asian
\nNetwork for Free Elections, Independent Election Monitoring
\nCommittee (KIPP), the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI)
\nand Asian Network for Democracy in Indonesia. (edt)<\/p>",
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