On Aceh reporting<\/p>\n
I would like to comment on Aboeprijadi Santoso's article
\ntitled Unspoken protest amid prolonged war in Aceh (The Jakarta
\nPost, July 8).<\/p>\n
The article is a typical example of one-sided and unbalanced
\nreporting. The writer complains that \"from students, activists to
\ncivil servants, intellectuals and public figures, people tend to
\nbe either silent, hide or leave their home ... in response to the
\nwar and the consequences of martial law\". But he doesn't bother
\nto mention the fact that it was the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) who
\neventually provoked martial law by insisting on their standpoint
\nthat Aceh's independence is a \"fixed price\" and is therefore an
\n\"absolutely non-negotiable matter\".<\/p>\n
The writer further deplores the brave young Abdullah, who
\n\"cried because his beloved mother was among thousands of locals
\nforced to move to the football stadium of Cot Gapu. He could not
\ntake her to the capital as she needed to get a new ID card in her
\ndistrict\". But the writer doesn't waste a word on the fact that
\nit was GAM who unlawfully collected ID cards from the Acehnese,
\nespecially from the villagers. Those who refused to obey GAM's
\norders had to face punishment.<\/p>\n
The writer states that \"Aceh lacks new leaders\" and that \"true
\nleadership can hardly be expected, for neither the corrupt and
\nunpopular local politicians nor the rebels can provide it, as the
\nprovince is under strict military command\".<\/p>\n
While it is true that the government has failed to improve law
\nenforcement and people's welfare, the writer does not explain
\nwhether he believes that GAM would offer better leadership. The
\nrebels have never publicized what kind of government they would
\nlike to establish if Aceh would become independent: A pure
\nIslamic state, a sultanate or a republic?<\/p>\n
And so far they have also made no commitments concerning human
\nrights, democracy, freedom of science and teaching, equal rights
\nfor women, the right to free and democratic elections and freedom
\nof the press! The writer doesn't even wonder whether, in the
\nabsence of such commitments, the Acehnese might possibly be worse
\noff under GAM's rule.<\/p>\n
HILDE MAY, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/on-aceh-reporting-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }