Aceh and Papua

Aceh and Papua

While acknowledging our deep affection for the Iraqi people, we have our own unresolved problems: Aceh and Papua.

Recently, violence has been escalating in the two provinces. Members of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) were reported to have broken into the Indonesian Military (TNI) arsenal to steal guns. The separatists took several guns after killing two TNI members.

In Aceh, the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has yet to lay down its arms following the Cessation of Hostilities agreement. GAM has recently taken hostage an off-duty Indonesian Air Force member, who was with his family.

We see those involved in the clashes growing frustrated. The office of the Joint Security Council (JSC) has been attacked twice by the Acehnese, who accused the JSC of having failed to create and maintain peace in Aceh. We all know that uncontrolled anger could hamper the implementation of the peace agreement in Aceh.

We acknowledge the international efforts to deal with the problems in Aceh and Papua. But we should be aware that the two restive areas are part of the unitary state of Indonesia, and there is no bargaining on that.

We Indonesians should show our good will to settle the internal rifts in a very humane and honorable manner.

Development in the two provinces needs to be accelerated, and this has been apparently ignored by the government.

When we have done our best, we will just say 'No' to any parties that want to rock the unitary state of Indonesia.

-- Kompas, Jakarta

;; ANPAk..r.. Otherop-attitude-media The attitude of the media JP/6/

The attitude of the media

America has become a center of learning for the international press. It has many reputable schools of journalism. Independence and balance are the journalistic principles taught in those schools.

However, paying close attention to the media coverage on the U.S. invasion of Iraq, we've been skeptical: Is the U.S. really a model for the international press?

Have we seen the Iraqi people suffering as a result of the attack in Cable News Network (CNN), which is acclaimed as a reputable television station? CNN has been imbalanced in its reports.

CNN, NBC, Fox, and dozens of television stations and print media in the U.S. have never featured the hundreds of Iraqi civilians killed in the coalition forces' attack. They have just aired shots of the coalition troops, with their modern weaponry.

In other words, the American media supports the brutal actions of their military forces. Moreover there are many "embedded" U.S. reporters; traveling side by side with the military in Iraq.

Veteran journalist Peter Arnett was fired from NBC soon after he told Iraqi television that America had failed in its offensive.

It is fortunate that we now can see other Middle Eastern television broadcasts, such as Al Jazeera, Al Arabiyah. and Dubai TV, which provide the world with balanced reporting on the Iraq war. Pictures that did not appear on CNN have been made available by them.

-- Republika, Jakarta