Govt defends move on Aussie correspondent

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia defended on Monday its move not to renew an Australian correspondent's journalist visa, insisting that the decision was merely based on a "technical consular matter" and was in no way a harbinger to stricter control of foreign media here.

The Indonesian foreign ministry lamented in a statement the presentation of the events that unfolded involving the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age correspondent Lindsay Murdoch, saying that it was misrepresentation of the facts.

It regretted a joint statement issued by two Australian newspapers which "exaggerated and overpoliticized" an issue which was "truly technical in nature".

"The Indonesian government trusts that this misrepresentation of facts will not influence public trust, both international and domestic, on the strong desire and political commitment of the government and the people of Indonesia to guarantee press freedom."

The government, through the foreign ministry, refused to further extend Murdoch's visa which initially expired on March 10, effectively rendering his ability to work as a journalist here void.

Murdoch, 48, worked here for three years. His visa initially expired on Dec. 10 and was extended for three months.

The two publications he works for claim the move was due to Murdoch's "authoritative reporting", a suggestion which has been countered by the foreign ministry.

Jakarta says that there had been an understanding with Fairfax, publisher of the two newspapers, in December that a new correspondent would be sent and the three-month extension was to accommodate the arrival of the journalist to be based here.

Speaking to The Jakarta Post, foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa stressed that the issue was in no way related to an editorial matter.

He pointed out that Murdoch had not been banned from Indonesia and had in fact returned here on a business visa.

Marty said that while "we may disagree on many of the things he has written" as long as it is accurate and heeds to journalistic ethics it is still acceptable.

He brushed off suggestions of tight media scrutiny, both of foreign correspondents and local reporters, saying that it was in Indonesia's best interests to maintain coverage. Both newspapers are free to nominate a new correspondent here.

But the government has resisted revealing the reason for the decision.

The lack of transparency has been further affirmed by defiant remarks that "there is no obligation for any country to explain the reasons for issuing or not issuing a visa".

Still it is of little comfort to local and foreign journalists when the government can take excessive measures against the press without transparent grounds.

Sources have suggested that the decision, which was taken by an interdepartmental committee, was influenced by military elements who were upset with Murdoch.

International media watchdog Reporters San Frontiers was one of those who suggested on Monday that this was "the first evidence" that elements of the military were pressuring the government to crack down on press freedom.

"We hope it will be the first and the last case," Vincent Brossel of the Paris-based group said as quoted by AFP.