Press resists choice
\nof 'embedded or dead'<\/p>\n
JP\/6\/MAIMUN<\/p>\n
Time to opt out of
\n'embedded' journalism<\/p>\n
Maimun
\nChief Editor
\n'Beudoh' Weekly
\nBanda Aceh<\/p>\n
Only tears and prayers accompanied Jamaludin, 30, the
\ncameraman of state television station TVRI, on his journey home
\nto his Creator. Discovered about a month ago on the banks of the
\nLamnyong River, Banda Aceh, only a few meters away from our
\noffice of the Beudoh (Awaken) tabloid, the traces of torture on
\nhis body left a chilling message, particularly for fellow
\njournalists.<\/p>\n
News of his death came while journalists were barely coping
\nwith new restrictions on covering the war in Aceh through the
\ncensorship measure of Presidential Decree No. 43\/2003.<\/p>\n
Journalists now assigned to Aceh have become quite familiar
\nwith the mental terror perpetrated against them, particularly
\nwhen attending regular press conferences held by the military
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
Then, there is the bureaucratic procedure involved in
\nobtaining press cards issued by the martial law authorities, an
\nact that indirectly contradicts Article 4 of Law No. 40\/1999 on
\npress freedom -- though indeed the authorities would cite their
\nlegal rights based on the 1959 law on martial law.<\/p>\n
Those covering Aceh are also continuously challenged with
\naccusations on being partial to either warring party, while they
\nmight have intended to side with humanitarian concerns.<\/p>\n
One example is how Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members reportedly
\nchased a reporter of the private television station TV7 just
\nbecause GAM was not happy with what they called pro-Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI) coverage. For the same reason, the cameraman of
\nanother private television station Metro TV, among those embedded
\nwith the TNI, became target practice.<\/p>\n
The warring parties know full well that the key to victory
\ndepends not only on the weapons but also on public opinion --
\nwhich is why in Aceh journalism is restrained and interfered with
\nand reporters and editors are harassed and intimidated in a bid
\nto control public views.<\/p>\n
Press members in Aceh also face the daily challenge from their
\neditors who demand \"exclusive\" reports, while they must also save
\ntheir skins. Hence the option of being \"embedded\" with the TNI,
\nalthough journalists are noncombatants.<\/p>\n
Embedded journalism is a new phenomenon in Aceh. With dozens
\nof journalists embedded with the TNI, the result has been the
\nstigmatizing of journalists opting to be \"embedded\" with GAM, as
\nin the case of American journalist William Nessen. Restrictions
\nwere tightened on the press following the knowledge that he was
\nin a GAM hideout.<\/p>\n
So far, embedded journalism has shown us what we sacrifice in
\na bid to gain \"exclusive\" reports. Under mutually beneficial
\nconditions we may gain such reports, while the military acquires
\nmany opportunities to control public opinion -- not to mention
\nwhat becomes of the perspective of victims themselves, the
\ncivilians trapped in the war.<\/p>\n
It is thus urgent to decide whether embedded journalism should
\nremain an option in covering the Aceh war.<\/p>\n
There must at least be an effort to find a way to ensure that
\njournalists can maintain a role toward peacemaking in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Another obstacle to the press trying to do its job has been
\nthe term \"nationalism\". The martial law administration in Aceh
\nregularly preaches \"nationalism\" to journalists assigned in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
If the military seeks the cooperation of the media in
\ndefending the integrity of the unitary state, it is enough for
\nthe TNI to let journalists do just what they are supposed to do.
\nWe cannot be forced to make the choice of \"be embedded or dead.\"
\nThe endeavor to produce objective, balanced and valid reports is
\nabove everything else.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/press-resists-choice-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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