'Antara' lashes out at subscribers

JAKARTA: Most subscribers to state-owned news agency Antara use the agency's news reports as raw material only, Antara chief editor Mohammad Sobary said on Monday.

"Thus our soul has been murdered by our subscribers," Sobary said during a hearing with House of Representatives Commission I for media and defense affairs.

Sobary made the statement in response to questions from legislators on the commitment of the state news agency to maintaining the country's territorial integrity, as reflected in its stories.

Legislators questioned why stories on the Aceh conflict mostly dwelled on civilian casualties and suffering, instead of humanitarian activities in the province.

Sobary said that because most subscribers used Antara's reports only as their raw material, it was difficult to judge the agency's commitment to national unity based on Antara articles used by both the print and electronic media.

Sobary, who was appointed Antara's chief editor by former president Abdurrahman Wahid, emphasized on Monday that the news agency was committed to maintaining the country's integrity. --JP