Biased foreign broadcast

Biased foreign broadcast

From Republika

As a faithful listener of Elshinta radio station, I was extremely shocked at a broadcast by The Netherlands Radio about the issue of Maluku, which was being aired by Elshinta a few minutes before 5 a.m. on Monday, July 10, 2000.

With a systematic "oration", the announcer (with church music playing in the background) explicitly commented on the unrest in Maluku and went on to condemn another religion (Islam), which he regarded as full of lies as well as the trigger of unrest. I was frightened to hear it.

As I am afraid the "one-sided" broadcast would develop into something harmful to all of us, I immediately phoned Elshinta and asked them to stop the program. In just a few seconds, an Elshinta official responded positively and stopped it right away.

I'd like to hereby thank the Elshinta editorship, in particular the official on duty at that time, for their understanding. May Elshinta, with its trademark of operating 24 hours a day, remain an independent radio station that is loved by many.

Furthermore, it is my hope that in the future Elshinta will be wise enough to immediately censor or refrain from airing any foreign radio programs (BBC London, VOA and Radio Nederland) which tend to champion any particular religion and attack another religion.

A. HIDAYAT

Jakarta