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