Analysts stage silent strike

Analysts stage silent strike

JAKARTA (JP): Journalists without sources resemble someone who
loses his or her lover -- the person from whom one seeks
inspiration.

In the wake of the General Session of the People's
Consultative Assembly, media workers in Palu, the capital of
Central Sulawesi, as well as their counterparts in provinces
outside Jakarta, bank on local analysts to enrich their stories.

As the top agenda of the session -- the presidential election
-- approaches, journalists in Palu are missing out on the action
because many of their sources do not appear to be in the mood.

"He's sleeping" or "he's not home" were the frustrating
responses to journalists attempting to follow up on Saturday
observers' responses to President B.J. Habibie's accountability
speech.

Several analysts told Antara news agency they were fed up with
obvious attempts by certain factions in the Assembly to force
others to accept their wishes.

"Our comments are useless, because the ongoing deliberation on
the nation and state affairs in the Assembly have been tarnished
by unethical and emotional behavior," said a lecturer from local
Tadulako University who requested anonymity.

Nobody knows how to stop the boycott. (amd)