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media, and high-profile people like Cosgrove, should not pigeonhole all members of the Indonesian press into their outdated stereotype of government stooges.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