Biased press

Poor Mrs. Anne-Marie Elizabeth Tapp ("Your Letters," July 12, 1996)! She has never read an unfavorable report about Indonesia in her home country. Of course not, Mrs. Tapp. But if you can detach yourself from the travel guide section of any big London bookstore next time you visit, perhaps you can amble down to the Politics/History area and discover for the first time that such newspaper articles and books do exist.

The British Library might also be able to help you. Or try cultivating a friendship with one of the press affairs people at our Embassy on Grosvenor Square. They will provide you with ample material. Don't tell me you have never heard of Carmel Budiardjo, John Pilger, or Brian May? They are among the most tendentious and one-sided reporters around.

Surely you do know that for decades, developing countries have fought for a better balance in coverage from the international press. And what about Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's recent complaint that the Western press have written about him disparagingly? And the Singapore Straits Times had a story on July 2 titled New York Times refuses to print Singapore government's reply on (Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's luxury housing) matter. And wonder of all wonders, the very newspaper you write to -- The Jakarta Post -- in its international advertising literature states that one of its missions is "counter-balancing the Western-dominated perspective of global news and views."

Perhaps all of them, like you claim I am doing, pretend to champion objectivity and a balanced approach. All of the people who have protested are wrong and there is no such thing as biased Western journalism. It simply doesn't exist in Mrs. Tapp's eyes.

I do know that the Mills and Boon paperbacks or the Sweet Valley High series are exciting for some. But isn't it time we progressed beyond starry-eyed fantasy?

FARID BASKORO

Jakarta