Debtors on trial by the press

The media play a critical role in the perception of facts. Human interest, emotion, alleged disclosures, and so on are potent forces that the media thrive upon. Credibility and honesty are critical and should be our highest priority.

Consider this example. A national publication reported last May 2002: Sjamsul kosongkan kas BDNI sebelum terima BLBI(Kompas, May 27) or Sjamsul emptied BDNI cash box before receiving liquidity funds, and Paksa badan penilap BLBI (Investor No. 56) , meaning Detain the corruptors of BLBI funds.

In the first example, the report said that BDNI was transferring funds to 10 offshore tax havens before the government provided to BDNI liquidity support from the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA). The national media only interviewed Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) without the public (the readers') access to positive coverage and balanced reporting. For example, has IBRA or the source at the Attorney General's Office officially questioned BDNI management about the alleged misuse of IBRA funds? Until now, a team has been appointed by the government to identify IBRA's uncooperative and cooperative debtors from among the 35 IBRA debtors. The team also will recommend what legal action is to be taken on debtors -- all former bankers, who owe the government some US$10 billion in emergency liquidity loans. So, in this case and the others, the mass media should not create confusion for the public, through trial by press, or a character assassination, but present fair and objective reporting in this reformation era and in the future.

SERVAS PANDUR Tangerang, Banten