Press faces uphill battle covering graft cases<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The local mass media's efforts to cover corruption cases are
\nfaced with many challenges, including the use of violence,
\ndespite the nationwide anti-hoodlumism drive.<\/p>\n
During a discussion here on Thursday, some journalists from
\nvarious media across the country shared their bitter experiences
\nfollowing up on their news reports on corruption.<\/p>\n
"I witnessed people ransacking the office of a tabloid in
\nprotest against news in the media about alleged corruption
\ninvolving a local figure," said a journalist from South Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Another journalist also revealed that "certain people" often
\nthreatened to attack journalists or their offices following their
\nreports on corruption cases, most of which implicated public
\nfigures or local government officials.<\/p>\n
Sadly, scholar George Junus Aditjondro said that physical
\nthreats were not the only ones facing journalists and the press
\nwho cover corruption cases.<\/p>\n
"Currently, there is a tendency for business tycoons,
\ngovernment officials or politicians to buy media companies in a
\nbid to ensure that the media will help cover up possible
\ncorruption cases involving them," he said.<\/p>\n
The business moguls, George said, might step into the newsroom
\nof their media company to blow up corruption cases involving
\ntheir rivals or to cover up cases against them or their cronies.<\/p>\n
"It does not happen only in print or electronic media, but
\nalso online media," he said.<\/p>\n
There is also a tendency for people who are connected to
\ncorruption cases to file defamation lawsuits against journalists
\n-- or their media -- who report on the case.<\/p>\n
"Media companies and journalists are afraid of being sued,"
\nsaid a journalist.<\/p>\n
Poor law enforcement has discouraged the country's efforts to
\neradicate corruption, he added.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) has said that corruption
\nhas become worse as now, they involve not only government
\nofficials, but also the judiciary.<\/p>\n
Despite the fall of Soeharto's corrupt regime in 1998, graft
\ncases have instead become more widespread and numerous, ICW said.<\/p>\n
"The rampant corruption of the past was more centralized
\nbecause of Soeharto's power, but the current administration has
\npromoted corruption in the spirit of mutual cooperation," the
\ncorruption watchdog said.<\/p>\n
George said the media and journalists should play a leading
\nrole in the fight against corruption.<\/p>\n
"As a source of information, the mass media generates public
\nawareness. There is no other way for the media to fight
\ncorruption but to join forces with other elements, such as non-
\ngovernmental organizations or certain officials who are
\nconsidered clean," he said.<\/p>\n
Despite his distrust in the government, George still expects
\nit to play a role in the eradication of corruption by proposing a
\nbill that would give the media access to public information,
\nincluding public officials' tax records.<\/p>\n
The House is currently deliberating the bill on freedom of
\ninformation.<\/p>\n
George suggested that journalists continue to encourage public
\nawareness and public opinion against corruption.<\/p>\n
"People will always look for such a story," added George,
\nasking journalists to improve their knowledge and analytical
\nskills regarding corruption cases.<\/p>",
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