'Restricting foreign journalists in Aceh counterproductive'<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government's restrictive policy on the presence of foreign
\njournalists in covering the military offensive in Aceh could
\ndisrupt its own efforts to wage a clean war in the violence-torn
\nprovince, says a press observer.<\/p>\n
"Such a policy could be counterproductive as the government is
\nalso seeking international support for its fight against the
\narmed rebellion," Press Council deputy chairman Leo Batubara said
\nhere on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
He argued that the presence of foreign journalists in Aceh was
\nneeded to oversee the implementation of martial law and to
\ndisseminate accurate information on it in an attempt to win
\nsupport from the international community.<\/p>\n
With the presence of foreign journalists in Aceh, Indonesia
\ncould show the international community its strong commitment to
\nrepairing its poor record on human rights during the military
\noperation from 1989 through 1998, he said.<\/p>\n
"If the war is really clean, why should journalists be
\nrestricted in covering the military offensive there? Logically,
\npeople would then think that we were hiding something," Leo
\nremarked.<\/p>\n
He urged the government to ensure the freedom of the press and
\nallow local and foreign journalists to cover the operation and
\nproduce balanced reports on the war.<\/p>\n
According to Leo, despite the emergency law justifying the
\nimposition of martial law, the government should no longer
\nregulate how the media should cover the war as this law was out
\nof date.<\/p>\n
Law No. 23\/1959 on emergencies allows the authorities to
\nrestrict journalists in carrying out their work in areas where a
\nstate of emergency has been imposed.<\/p>\n
Atika Schubert, a journalist with U.S.-based CNN, hoped that
\nthe requirements imposed by the government on foreign journalists
\nin Aceh would not disrupt their freedom to carry out their
\njournalistic duties.<\/p>\n
"We have yet to get more information ... but the requirement
\nfor a surat jalan (accreditation) for foreign journalists.
\nObviously, we oppose any threats to press freedom," said Atika,
\nwho also chairs the foreign correspondents' club in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
She believed that it would be another setback for Indonesia if
\nthe government imposed regulations limiting the freedom of
\njournalists to do their jobs, including investigating
\ncontroversies and interviewing locals.<\/p>\n
Last month, a report quoting eyewitnesses claiming civilian
\nmurders irked the military. They threatened to take legal action
\nagainst any newspapers that ran the story.<\/p>\n
M. Wahid Supriyadi, a spokesman for the foreign ministry, said
\non Wednesday that his office had yet to issue the procedures
\nrequired on the part of foreign journalists for covering the
\nmilitary operation as foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda was
\ncurrently in Phonm Penh, Cambodia.<\/p>\n
"But basically it is the same as the presidential decree (on
\nthe issue), expect for some adjustments," he said.<\/p>\n
Wahid said that journalists and correspondents with foreign
\nmedia, be they Indonesians or foreigners, must comply with the
\nregulation.<\/p>\n
All journalists, he said, must be recommended by the foreign
\nministry, must report to the martial law administration and must
\nobey the "rules of the game".<\/p>\n
Wahid earlier said that a permit from the foreign ministry for
\na foreign journalist would be valid for 30 days, and could be
\nextended for another 30 days.<\/p>\n
The new regulation has been effective since Tuesday.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/restricting-foreign-journalists-in-aceh-counterproductive-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }