Press told 'handle riots with care'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto called on senior Indonesian
\njournalists yesterday to handle stories about unrest with care.<\/p>\n
\"Whether in news stories or commentaries, care must be taken
\nso as not to give the impression that an act of rioting is a
\nlegitimate process,\" Soeharto said during a meeting with
\nIndonesia's top media executives at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
\"Care must be taken to ensure accurate news data.<\/p>\n
\"Inaccurate data, especially on something so sensitive, could
\nhave big implications at home and abroad,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The President officially opened a 10-day Pancasila ideology
\ncourse yesterday for 69 top mass media executives. The \"Manggala\"
\ncourse, organized by the government, is given to people in
\nleadership positions from all walks of life and professions.<\/p>\n
The course for senior journalists, which proceeded yesterday
\nin nearby Bogor, will look at the policies and strategies
\ninvolved in ushering the nation into the dawning of the free
\ntrade era.<\/p>\n
The President underscored journalists' position in society
\nbecause of their direct access in molding public opinion.<\/p>\n
\"The mass media are not solely passive recorders of facts and
\nevents. They have a mission to convey perspectives, judgments and
\nopinions that are appropriate,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"In discharging their tasks, the mass media should not only
\nsearch for objective truths, but process them with critical
\nanalysis to guide society to look to the future,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A society as diverse as Indonesia has many problems, which if
\nnot handled carefully, could spark riots, Soeharto said.<\/p>\n
\"Riots can make interesting stories, but not a single problem
\nwill be solved through rioting,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He made no specific reference to the riot in Central Jakarta
\non July 27, or any other incidents of unrest.<\/p>\n
The President underlined the need for journalists to have a
\n\"clean, clear and free from fear\" attitude as well as freedom to
\nproduce the best possible analysis and judgments.<\/p>\n
\"In discharging their tasks, they have to have a sense of
\nresponsibility. This is why we need a code of ethics.\"<\/p>\n
Soeharto referred to the various existing opinions on the
\nresults of national development and the way it had been
\nconducted.<\/p>\n
\"There are positive and constructive opinions that not only
\nindicate appreciation for the progress we have achieved, but also
\ngive various alternatives to the problems we are facing.<\/p>\n
\"There are also critical opinions that look at the
\nshortcomings and weaknesses. Some of them give alternatives and
\nsome do not. But overall, they are positive.<\/p>\n
\"But there are also opinions in society that are critical and
\ndestructive, some limited to accusations and others inciting
\npeople to start rioting. There are also those who openly reject
\neverything that we have built slowly with care since 1966,\"
\nSoeharto said.<\/p>\n
The President encouraged the senior journalists to use the
\nopportunity offered by the course to help formulate the nation's
\npolicy and strategy in dealing with free trade.<\/p>\n
He said one of the biggest challenges facing Indonesia is the
\nskill of the nation's entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n
\"Their number is quite big, but not all of them are capable of
\ntaking advantage and dealing with the threats (that come with the
\nfree trade era).\"<\/p>\n
It is these people who will need help, lest they fall behind
\nin a free market competition, he said.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said that in tapping the opportunities offered by
\nfree trade, Indonesia will have to compete with other developing
\ncountries. \"Everyone will strive to sell high-quality products at
\nthe cheapest possible prices. That means there will be very stiff
\ncompetition,\" he said. (emb)<\/p>",
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