Condescending attitude
Condescending attitude
Is it any surprise that the Indonesian media holds such a
negative view about the Australian-led mission in East Timor, and
the Australian press in general?
On Oct. 14, 1999 when asked about video footage of militia
members in Liquica, Interfet Commander Peter Cosgrove snidely
remarked that the footage "didn't come from East Timor", and
sarcastically implied that it was propaganda launched by the
Indonesian media. (He, of course, backtracked a few hours later
and confirmed that there was indeed a reported militia presence
near Liquica).
Never mind that the footage was shot by the London-based
Associated Press, Cosgrove's condescending attitude towards the
Indonesian press (which sort of reflects how most members of the
Western media seems to view us) is precisely what we can do
without. It is a sign of the double standards also used to judge
the media.
Do some elements of the Indonesian press tell lies and half-
truths about East Timor? Of course! But so do elements of the
Western media, as a quick rummage through a Western publication
or a quick view of foreign newscasts will prove. When the
Australian media quotes unverifiable sources and puts an anti-
Indonesian vindictive twist on its reports, it becomes "fact".
Meanwhile, the Indonesian media starts quoting controversial
sources which may jibe with the version Australians receive, it
is called "propaganda" or at best a "media campaign".
The fact that the Indonesian media reported two versions of
the Oct. 10 deadly clash between Interfet and Indonesian border
guards was not part of some "campaign" to discredit the
Australian-led mission. It was simply because we, flowering into
a free-press society, have not only learned to question official
(military/government) versions of an incident, but we have also
learned not to take foreign-based news services at face value.
While most sensible foreign news agencies have well-trained
staff with more than a superficial knowledge of Indonesia, others
distort facts either from ignorance or malicious intent.
Members of the Australian media, and high-profile people like
Cosgrove, should not pigeonhole all members of the Indonesian
press into their outdated stereotype of government stooges. And
when the Indonesian media starts "talking back" to them, they
should not pull out the tired accusation of "propaganda". Do not
make the mistake of confusing "balanced reporting" with
"obedience to foreign sources"!
NOVA POERWADI
Jakarta