Press remains under threat despite new status in Aceh<\/p>\n
A. Junaidi, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The change in status from martial law to a state of civil
\nemergency in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam has received a warm welcome
\nfrom some media observers, but they also issued a warning that
\nthe new administration's power could still restrict press
\nfreedom.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) member Bimo Nugroho
\ngreeted the decision to lift martial law in the province, which
\nhas been plagued by a secessionist movement for several decades,
\nsaying that military rule had sacrificed press freedom for
\nsecurity purposes.<\/p>\n
\"It's good because it will pave the way for freedom of the
\npress. It will give the media a lot of opportunities to make
\ninvestigative reports,\" Bimo told The Jakarta Post on Monday.<\/p>\n
However, the program director of the Institute for the Study
\nof the Free Flow of Information (ISAI), Agus Sudibyo, doubted the
\nnew status would ensure press freedom equal to the rest of the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"I doubt the revocation of martial law and the imposition of
\nthis state of civil emergency will bring about press freedom in
\nAceh. Both the military and civilian authorities have a tendency
\nto halt press freedom,\" Agus said.<\/p>\n
Under martial law, the military administration discouraged
\ncoverage of both sides of the conflict by banning the media from
\nreporting on the activities of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and
\npushing for \"patriotic\" coverage.<\/p>\n
Research conducted by ISAI from June to December last year
\nfound that the media had failed to help mitigate the Aceh
\nconflict, as their coverage on the impact of martial law in the
\nwar-torn province was considered one-sided.<\/p>\n
They used a quantitative analysis and monitored 10 national
\npublications -- Kompas, Republika, Media Indonesia, Pos Kota,
\nKoran Tempo, Rakyat Merdeka, Indo Pos, Warta Kota, Harian Terbit
\nand Suara Pembaruan -- and five television networks, Metro TV,
\nSCTV, ANTV, TV7 and RCTI.<\/p>\n
Most journalists also failed to uphold the basic principles of
\ncovering both sides in reporting on a conflict, preferring to get
\ninformation from government officials rather than ordinary people
\nor GAM.<\/p>\n
It also found that many reports on the Aceh conflict mixed
\nfacts with the journalists' opinions.<\/p>\n
The media was also criticized for ignoring the Aceh issue
\nafter the initial implementation of martial law, with other
\nstories being prioritized.<\/p>\n
Journalists and editors were also reproached for rarely
\nquestioning the implementation of martial law.<\/p>\n
\"The media has the right to say that it must present what the
\nreaders or viewers want. There is no excuse for the media not to
\nkeep questioning the implementation of martial law in Aceh,\" Agus
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The media, he said, had apparently left the public with the
\nimpression that the war was the only realistic option to resolve
\nthe conflict.<\/p>\n
Television editors earlier admitted that their crews had to
\nremain physically close to the martial law administration in
\norder to ensure their security.<\/p>\n
They also blamed the rough terrain in Aceh and the lack of
\ntelecommunication infrastructure for their failure to broadcast
\nbalanced stories.<\/p>\n
Agus also predicted that the media would be paying more
\nattention to the first-ever direct presidential election than on
\nthe Aceh conflict for the next several months.<\/p>\n
The presidential election will take place on July 5, with a
\npossible run-off on Sept. 20.<\/p>\n
Comparison between martial law and a state of civil emergency
\nthat affect media coverage<\/p>\n
----------------------------------------------------------------------
\nArticles MARTIAL LAW
\n-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\n25(2) : The authorities have the right to control<\/p>\n
postal, telecommunication, telephone, telegraph and radio<\/p>\n
broadcasting.<\/p>\n
26 : The authorities have the right to limit displays,<\/p>\n
printing, publications and announcements as well as the<\/p>\n
distribution, trade or posting of pictures, writings and<\/p>\n
paintings.<\/p>\n
------------------------------------------------------------------------<\/p>\n
STATE OF CIVIL EMERGENCY
\n------------------------------------------------------------------------
\n13 : The authorities have the right to limit displays,<\/p>\n
printing, publications and announcements as well as the<\/p>\n
distribution, trade or posting of pictures, writings and<\/p>\n
paintings.<\/p>\n
17(1) : The authorities have the right to screen all news and<\/p>\n
conversations on telephone or radio; also can<\/p>\n
ban or cut off the transfer of news or conversations<\/p>\n
via the telephone or radio.<\/p>\n
17(3) : The authorities have the right to limit or ban the use<\/p>\n
of the telephone, telegraph and radio.
\n------------------------------------------------------------------------<\/p>",
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